Renewable Energy Solutions for Indigenous Groups

Throughout the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, indigenous groups are turning to wind, solar and geothermal energy.  Developing these renewable sources of energy will lower their energy costs, help create self-sufficient, sustainable economies and increase their overall standard of living.  Instead of spending on diesel power generators and importing fossil fuels, the indigenous groups will be generate revenue from wind and solar farms that can be used to develop infrastructure, schools and other improvements to their communities.

The native peoples of these regions represent a wide variety of cultures and organizational structures.  To meet these varied structures, renewable energy has to be flexible in its funding, ownership and implementation.  The natural resources also provide different renewable resources in each area.  This equation creates a multitude of responses and approaches.

The NW Shoshone tribe of Utah includes 500 people, but their land sits atop a significant geothermal resource which they are developing with assistance from the US Department of the Interior Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development.  They are currently building a 100 megawatt geothermal power plant which will provide all of their electricity needs and enable them to sell their surplus into the local grid, which they are already connected to.

The Maori of New Zealand have been long aware of geothermal springs and they are even part of their culture and mythology.  With assistance from the government of New Zealand the Tuaropaki Power Company has developed the Mokai Geothermal Plant which is 75% owned and 100% operated by the Tuaropaki Trust.  They have been online since 1999 with installation of a 55 megawatt power plant, and added 40 megawatts of capacity in 2005.

 The Blackfeet Community College in Montana recently installed a wind turbine which will provide 50% of its electricity and offer its students valuable hands on experience with renewable energy studies.  The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority has been installing wind and solar energy (pictured right) assets for several years now across its vast territory, and hopes to continue this in the future.

Economically, environmentally and culturally the prospects of renewable energy are very high for indigenous groups as they seek to build self-sufficient sustainable economies and improve their way of life on their own terms.