Wichita and Allied Tribes Go Solar with DOE Grant

The solar panels will provide enough energy to fully operate the hotel and cover about 20 percent of the casino’s energy needs, according to Vanessa Vance, treasurer of the Wichita and Allied Tribes. The tribe does not currently use clean energy, but hopes that this project will be a starting point for more green energy in the future.

The solar project will also have a positive impact on the environment. The tribe is expected to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 33,000 tons per year through the use of solar energy. This is consistent with the tribe’s long-term strategy to transition to cleaner energy sources.

The solar project will also promote economic growth by creating jobs. It will provide seven temporary jobs and three permanent ones. In addition, the tribe plans to create a utility to manage the solar energy system and future green energy projects.

The Wichita and Allied Tribes are one of six tribes to receive a clean energy grant from the Department of Energy. They have pledged to contribute approximately 25 percent of the total cost needed to complete the project. By working with developers and contractors, the tribe aims to diversify its energy sources and reduce its reliance on the traditional electric grid.

Vance also noted that the project will have a positive impact not only on the Wichita and adjacent tribes, but also on nearby communities, including the Delaware Nation and the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma, which share governance over the region. The tribe hopes that the move will open up new opportunities for green energy projects in the region, which will contribute to both economic and environmental progress.