Native Sun Community Power Development

PROMOTE RENEWABLE ENERGY THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

HIGHLIGHTS:NATIVE SUN MADE GREAT STRIDES OF PROGRESS IN 2021 IN TERMS OF GETTING PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED, GETTING FUNDING FOR STAFF AND PROGRAM WORK, AND MAKING GOOD CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS:NATIVE SUN PUT TOGETHER A REGIONAL WORKGROUP TO RESPOND TO A U.S. DEPT OF ENERGY FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN BEING AWARDED A $6.7MILLION CONTRACT. NATIVE SUN IS THE LEAD ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROJECT, UPPER MIDWEST INTER-TRIBAL EV CHARGING NETWORK PROJECT WITH PARTNERS THAT INCLUDE RED LAKE AND STANDING ROCK TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, ALONG WITH SAGE, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, CENTER FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT, ZEF ENERGY, XCEL ENERGY, OTTERTAIL POWER, MN POWER, AND MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY. SOME OF THE PARTICIPATING FLEETS INCLUDE: RED LAKE'S FISHERY THAT CURRENTLY USES AGING DIESEL TRUCKS FOR DELIVERIES AND RED LAKE FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES THAT PROVIDES RIDES TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER NEEDS TO FACILITIES IN MINNEAPOLIS, FARGO, ST. CLOUD, GRAND FORKS, DULUTH AND ELSEWHERE. THE PROJECT WILL BEGIN IN 2022 AFTER THE CONTRACTS WITH US DOE ARE SIGNED.NATIVE SUN FORMED A BIPOC TABLE TO HAVE A UNITED VOICE AND MAKE COMMENTS AROUND EQUITY AND INCLUSION TO THE MN PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION AS PART OF THE XCEL INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN. NATIVE SUN WORKED WITH LEAD FOR MN/AMERICA TO GET FUNDING FOR A FELLOW TO WORK AT LITTLE EARTH UNITED TRIBES TO ORGANIZE ALL ASPECTS OF FEDERAL LOW-INCOME WEATHERIZATION WORK TO BE PERFORMED OVER THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS ON THE MORE THAN 200 RESIDENTIAL UNITS.