The Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians has completed solar and battery storage installations at three tribal administration buildings on its reservation in San Diego County, California, in partnership with the nonprofit Solar Electric Light Fund.
The Tribe described the project as the first public clean energy installation on the reservation and part of a longer effort to strengthen energy sovereignty. The systems serve the Tekamuk, Hallyeyaaw and Golden Eagle administration buildings, which the Tribe said function as civic and community hubs for tribal government, housing services, cultural and educational activities, food distribution and emergency response.
The solar arrays are designed to meet the three facilities’ current electricity needs and include capacity for future growth. Together, they are expected to generate about 60 MWh of solar electricity annually and save the Tribe at least $16,780 per year in electricity costs. Battery storage allows the buildings to continue operating independently of the electric grid during outages, which the Tribe said are common in the rural community.
Curtis La Chusa, chairman of the Mesa Grande Tribal Council, said electricity is often taken for granted until service is lost, and that outages at Mesa Grande can last for days and disrupt the services the Tribe provides.
The project builds on more than two decades of work by Mesa Grande to expand access to reliable and affordable clean energy. Grid electricity did not reach the reservation until the 1950s, and some homes remain off-grid today, relying on small generators for basic needs. The Tribe has previously pursued residential solar, renewable energy planning and workforce development. Four tribal members who had received solar installation training were employed on the project, according to the announcement.
Bob Freling, executive director of SELF, said reliable and affordable energy can help communities invest in future needs. He said lowering energy costs and improving resilience can free resources while providing a foundation for growth, and that SELF looks forward to seeing how clean energy helps Mesa Grande meet its goals.
The installation comes as the Tribe begins work on a long-term plan for new housing and community infrastructure. The plan includes 1,500 new homes intended to address housing affordability and supply shortages that have historically limited how many members can live on tribal land. It would include the first new housing built on the reservation since 2005.
La Chusa said Mesa Grande has a bright future and that the effort starts with enabling tribal members to return home and providing spaces and services that help them thrive. The project was funded by the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation and others, according to the announcement.