Solar developer says renewable energy could transform Native communities » Yale Climate Connections

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When the Prairie Island Indian Community in Minnesota installed a big solar farm, the whole tribe had the opportunity to learn about the technology.

Robert Blake of the Red Lake Nation owns Solar Bear, a solar installation company. As part of the Prairie Island project, his company trained people to work on the crew.

Blake: “The all-Native crew that installed these solar panels installed 763 solar panels in one day. … I mean, it’s remarkable!”

But it was not only the installers who learned about solar. His company helped run a six-week course about solar energy that was open to all community members.

And as part of a summer school program, young tribal members learned about renewable energy and built solar ovens.

Blake: “We thought to ourselves, well, maybe there’s some younger folks, right, that maybe they’re 14, maybe they’re 13, but they want to learn.”

Blake says renewable energy has the potential to transform Native communities – creating jobs, building wealth, and improving the environment.

Blake: “This is another burgeoning industry that is happening in tribal country. This is another economic driver of our communities.”

So he says it’s important to help all tribal members see the potential and get excited about solar energy.

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media


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