Minnesota tribes push clean energy plans amid federal funding cuts

Indigenous communities across Minnesota are expanding efforts toward energy sovereignty through clean power projects, according to the Minnesota Reformer. Prairie Island Indian Community has installed onsite solar arrays and geothermal systems, energy program manager Andrea Zimmerman told the Reformer. Meanwhile the White Earth Nation operates a tribal utility commission empowered to set rates and issue binding orders for utilities serving its territory, Nate Matthews, the commission’s executive director, said.

The Minnesota Reformer reports that the Trump administration’s reduction of $7 billion in Solar For All funding has stalled some initiatives, including a proposed tribal virtual utility on the Red Lake Reservation backed by Bob Blake of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa. Blake told the Reformer that up to $80 million in aid for the project is now in limbo.