Project Traits

State: Minnesota

Congressional District: MN08

Organization Type: Tribal Nation

Partner Organization(s) Type: None or Unknown

Energy Sector: Clean Power, Energy Storage

Energy Subsector: Solar, Solar Plus Storage

Project Start Year: 2020

Project Launch Year: Unknown

Government Support Received: Federal Direct Pay [BIL, IRA] for Unknown Amount

Outcomes & Impacts

Private Investment: $700,000

Jobs Announced or Created: Unknown

People Served: 5,500

Projected Economic Impact: Unknown

The proposed project is about 15 megawatts and would feature energy storage and a substation. The entire reservation can run on five to seven megawatts of power, and the plan is for Red Lake Nation to sell the remaining power, creating a new revenue stream for the tribe. In 2020, the tribe spent $700,000 to purchase more than 200 acres of land located near the reservation for the solar project. At the site, Blake said he sees Red Lake’s future.

Jacobson estimates that it will be three more years until the land is cleared of trees, covered in solar panels, and generating power.