Arizona tribes awarded 3 renewable energy grants

The U.S. Dept. of Energy announced that 3 Arizona Tribes are among 19 clean energy projects chosen to receive more than $6.5 million. "These competitively selected projects will allow Native American Tribes to advance clean energy within their communities by assessing local energy resources, developing renewable energy projects and deploying clean energy technologies. These projects will help Tribal communities across the country save money and create new job and business opportunities." [Photo credit, US DOE]

Navajo Hopi Land Commission (NHLCO), Navajo Nation, Window Rock, AZ: $347,090
This project will conduct a feasibility study to explore potential renewable energy development on the 22,000-acre Paragon-Bisti lands in northwestern New Mexico. The study will examine the viability of developing up to 4,000 MW of solar power and the potential to deploy other forms of renewable energy at the site.

San Carlos Apache Tribe, San Carlos, AZ, $212,922
This project will conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to develop a solar energy generation facility on tribal trust lands within the Tribe’s reservation.

Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tucson, AZ, $105,975
This project will assess the viability of 1 MW of commercial and community-scale solar development on Tortuga Ranch. It will also examine the potential to install solar photovoltaic and hot water systems on tribal buildings to supply a minimum of 30 percent of the facilities’ energy needs.