Award detail

THE PEOPLE OF THE SPOKANE TRIBE OF INDIANS (TRIBE) ARE TRADITIONALLY KNOWN AS THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN. IT IS THEREFORE FITTING THAT SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PROJECTS HAVE BECOME A KEY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TRIBE. TO DATE, THE TRIBE, WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF PARTNERS, HAS INSTALLED APPROXIMATELY 1.4MW OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS ON 10 PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 23 ELDERS HOMES, AND 119 RENTAL HOMES OWNED BY THE SPOKANE INDIAN HOUSING AUTHORITY. THE TRIBE IS ALSO DEVELOPING A MICROGRID WITH ITS SERVING ELECTRIC UTILITY, AVISTA, AND IS DOING A FULL ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADE TO ITS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. OTHER PROJECTS ARE IN THE PLANNING AND GRANT-WRITING STAGES.IN 1997, THE SPOKANE TRIBE FORMED, AND WHOLLY OWNS THE SECTION 17 FEDERAL CORPORATION, SOVEREIGN POWER, INC. (SPI). SPI HAS SUCCESSFULLY BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE THAT TIME WITH ONE ONGOING POWER TRANSACTION. HOWEVER, SPI HAS NOT HAD AN ACTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE TRIBAL BUSINESS COUNCIL WISHES TO DEVELOP SPIS CAPACITY SO THAT IT MAY CONTRACT FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OWNED BY THE TRIBE, AND TO FURTHER DEVELOP ENERGY PROJECTS OR POWER MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TRIBE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION PURPOSES. IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE TRIBAL BUSINESS COUNCIL THAT A SPI BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT, AND STAFF WILL EVENTUALLY BE HIRED TO OPERATE SPI ONCE A CLEAR BUSINESS PLAN IS IN PLACE. CURRENTLY, SPI DOES NOT HAVE A CEO OR STAFF AND IS LACKING SIGNIFICANT ENERGY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. SPI ALSO UTILIZES CONTRACTORS TO ADMINISTER CERTAIN ROUTINE BUSINESS FUNCTIONS WHICH COULD BE MANAGED BY SPI IF ITS CAPACITY WERE EXPANDED. THE SPOKANE TRIBAL BUSINESS COUNCIL HAS RECENTLY APPOINTED AN INTERIM SPI BOARD OF DIRECTORS MADE UP OF TRIBAL STAFF TO ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT.THE TRIBE AND SPI NOW SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DIVISION OF ENERGY AND MINERALS TO DEVELOP SPIS CAPACITY TO MANAGE THE NUMEROUS ENERGY PROJECTS AND FURTHER TRIBAL ELECTRIC UTILITY BUSINESSES BEING DEVELOPED ON THE RESERVATION. THE TRIBAL BUSINESS COUNCIL HAS DESIGNATED JONI WYNECOOP, WHO SERVES AS BOTH THE TRIBES DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF SPI AND IS THE AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE DECISIONS ON DAY-TO-DAY GRANT ACTIVITIES. THE TRIBE IS APPLYING FOR $200,000 TO DEVELOP THE BUSINESS CAPACITY OF SPI. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS TEDC PROJECT ARE TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF SPI SO THAT THE COMPANY MAY PROFESSIONALLY MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THE SOLAR AND OTHER RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE BEING BUILT ACROSS THE RESERVATION, ADMINISTER THE LONG-TERM COSTS OF THE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE SERVING THE TRIBE THROUGH RATES AND BILLING, AND FURTHER THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL ENERGY PROJECTS ON THE RESERVATION. USING GRANT FUNDS, SPI WILL CONTRACT FOR AN ENERGY MANAGER WHO, ALONG WITH OTHER ENERGY EXPERTS, WILL DEVELOP:1.A DETAILED BUSINESS PLAN FOR SPIS DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT ROLE AND OTHER ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND2.SPI ENERGY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, INCLUDING A DISTRIBUTED ENERGY ELECTRIC RATE SETTING METHODOLOGY, FOR THE SPI BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSIDERATION.SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDING SPIS ROLE FROM A SINGLE BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT COMPANY THROUGH THESE OBJECTIVES WILL LOWER ELECTRICITY COSTS TO THE COMMUNITY PROVIDE GOOD PAYING JOBS FOR TRIBAL MEMBERS, FURTHER CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY ACROSS THE RESERVATION LOWER THE TRIBES CARBON FOOTPRINT AND PROVIDE A PROFESSIONAL COMPANY TO OPERATE, MAINTAIN, AND ADMINISTER NEW TRIBAL ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE WORKING TOWARDS ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY.

Review direct federal award facts for Spokane Tribe Of Indians, including awarding and funding lanes, performance dates, category codes, and source description, then move into the broader recipient, buyer, and market context quickly.