Opinion: Microgrids can help us power tribal communities while embracing renewable energy

With microgrids, tribal communities can reduce their reliance on a system that has historically not prioritized their needs.

BY CLAYTON YEKO,  GUILLERMO GOMEZ   AUG. 1, 2023 6 PM PT

Yeko and Gomez are business development managers at Scale Microgrids and have worked on the Soboba Casino Resort project. Yeko lives in San Diego. Gomez lives in Los Angeles.

It is clear that communities around the world need cleaner, more resilient and independent energy sources. As climate change continues, that need will only grow. While there are a host of options, all must work together to create a system that’s comprehensive and flexible enough to meet the rapidly evolving needs of modern energy challenges. One of the best-suited options for an adaptable system are microgrids. They work almost like the traditional grid — an interconnected system of energy sources that work together to provide comprehensive and reliable power. There is a key difference, however: Microgrids are able to function separately from the main grid, meaning that they are able to generate and distribute energy as an “island,” without any reliance on utility companies, municipalities or politics.

Of the homes in the United States that do not have electricity, an alarming 75 percent are located on tribal lands. Even when tribal communities do have electricity, it is often spotty at best. There are roughly 110 federally recognized tribes in California (and an additional 81 groups seeking formal recognition). Across the country, 14 percent of tribal households lack access to electricity, which is 10 times the national average. As the state’s climate gets hotter, drier and more difficult to live in, reliable access to energy is becoming a necessity for healthy tribal communities. In many cases, it can mean the difference between life and death.

A microgrid is a smart option for most businesses and communities that need reliable, affordable energy, but tribal lands are particularly well-suited to reap the benefits. With a microgrid, homes on tribal lands that have never been able to access consistent electricity from the central grid will be able to easily do so. Now more than ever, it is important to have consistent access to electricity to ensure a healthy and safe home. Electricity in homes allows residents to create a cool living environment, lowering the risk of serious heat-related illnesses. As complications associated with heat increase, so does the strain on the resources available to alleviate the pain. A recent study found major cities such as Phoenix are at risk of being overwhelmed by the results of severe weather. Microgrids can reduce the effects of excessive heat by creating more healthy spaces, especially in traditionally under-resourced communities that do not have many air-conditioned “third spaces” — places where people gather outside home or work.

Increasingly over recent years, electric utilities have been forced to implement planned service outages to reduce stress on the grid. Historically, tribal communities are among the most frequent recipients of these unwanted cuts, meaning that even when homes are on the grid and have access to electricity, it is often less reliable than outside of tribal areas. Furthermore, wildfires will continue to burn through areas with critical infrastructure, leaving sections of the main grid cut off and without power. This is often when communities need power the most: They are unable to access the internet and other resources needed to stay informed about the danger and what they need to do to protect themselves and their homes.

With microgrids, tribal communities can reduce their reliance on a system that has historically not prioritized their needs. Tribes can be in charge of their own energy production and distribution, removing the political issues from the equation while also utilizing a system that is inherently more reliable. In addition, microgrids provide clean, renewable power, which reduces emissions and improves public health. They also reduce energy costs by allowing consumers to use their own energy at peak usage times, instead of being subject to the price spikes associated with the traditional grid.

One tribe has started a project that will protect it for generations to come. The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians in Riverside County is taking energy concerns into its own hands, installing a microgrid at the Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto. The microgrid will include 1.5 megawatts of solar capacity and a 6 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system. This will lower long-term energy costs, as well as provide essential backup power during grid blackouts. It will also generate enough power to use the casino as a cooling center for community members during heat waves. Scale Microgrids, where we work, which was critical in obtaining federal funds to cover 50 percent of project costs, will be monitoring the system 24/7/365 to ensure optimal operation.

As the Soboba Tribe implements this project, it can be a model for improving energy access and security — and therefore quality of life — in other California tribes. The world needs more renewable energy, and tribes need more independence and security. Microgrids are able to fulfill both of these needs, while being a profit-making decision.