Solar System Cuts Health Center’s Yearly Cost by $2,600; Provides Workforce Training
Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs
July 8, 2024
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Solar System Cuts Health Center’s Yearly Cost by $2,600; Provides Workforce Training
In this Tribal Energy Snapshot, learn more about the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) project, providing clean energy to the Tribe’s recreation center. The project was cofunded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Indian Energy.
Project Quick Facts
The Coeur d’Alene Tribe installed a 35.2 kilowatt (kW) solar PV system to generate clean power at the Marimn Health Coeur Center, a youth recreation center located on the reservation.
The solar project builds on three previous successful DOE-supported projects, including the Benewah Market Energy Efficiency Project and the Senior Housing Complex Energy Efficiency and Solar Energy Project.
This latest project supports the Tribe’s energy goals by integrating renewable energy into its energy infrastructure, while also protecting the cultural and environmental values of the Coeur d’Alene people.
Take a glance at the project by the numbers:
Cost savings to the Tribe:
The project will reduce the Coeur Center’s annual electricity costs by approximately $2,600.
Total energy use reduction:
The system reduces energy use by about 41,750 kilowatt-hours per year, enough to power roughly 1.92 million smartphones.*
Total project cost:
The cost of the project is $136,259, shared by DOE ($68,129) and the Tribe ($68,130).
*Equivalency value was estimated using the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.
Insight From the Project Team
Learn from Laura Laumatia, Environmental Programs Manager for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, on her experience with the project.
Why did the Tribe pursue this clean energy project?
[This project was initiated] to reduce the Tribe’s carbon footprint and save energy for our Marimn Health and Wellness facility. But perhaps more importantly, [the project is] a way to promote solar energy at a facility that has high visibility. The Coeur Center is a brand new family and youth center that houses a gym, exercise facilities, and our Boys and Girls Club, and has high traffic from not only reservation residents, but families from around the region.
What other benefits have surfaced from the project?
A major benefit has been the opportunity to have community members trained in solar installation. We worked with our contractor, Nimiipuu Energy, to incorporate training into the contract, which included 10 community members receiving 40 hours of hands-on training and 7 of those assisting with the installation. At least 3 [of those trainees] have expressed interest in developing a career path in this field, helping build long-term capacity to achieve the Tribe’s renewable energy and energy sovereignty goals.
What was the biggest “lesson learned” from the project?
The biggest takeaway has been understanding the value of great partners. Even this relatively small solar project requires a lot of planning and coordination, and without [our] partners, it would have been impossible.
What are you most excited about now that the project is complete?
We are excited to be finishing this project at a time when the opportunities to rapidly expand renewable energy are practically exploding! This project has been a launchpad for thinking about the Tribe’s bigger energy goals, and I’m excited to see this project be a springboard for great things. I hope that we will see widespread incorporation of solar into our energy portfolio with all the benefits it can provide in cost savings, emissions reductions, and grid resilience.
Learn More
Learn more about this project, including additional background information, cost, and status on the project summary page.
Explore more Tribal energy projects through the Tribal energy projects database.