- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Energy | Environment
The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon has been awarded $1 million from the Oregon Department of Energy to install solar and battery energy storage systems at tribal housing and community facilities on the reservation.
The funding was awarded through the state’s Community Renewable Energy Program and will support projects led by Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises in partnership with the Warm Springs Housing Authority. The installations are intended to reduce energy costs, improve reliability and strengthen resilience for low-income tribal households and community spaces.
Solar and battery systems will be installed at three locations: Park Place Court Permanent Supportive Housing, which includes 10 tiny homes and a community services center for formerly unhoused tribal members; 24 single-family homes in the West Hills Affordable Housing neighborhood that require low-income verification; and the Greeley Heights Community Center, which serves as a gathering space for low-income residents.
The housing authority owns and operates the sites, which have previously undergone energy efficiency upgrades, including weatherization, lighting improvements and heat pump installations, according to project materials. The addition of on-site solar generation and battery storage is expected to build on those improvements by lowering utility costs and providing backup power during outages tied to wildfires and extreme weather.
Cathy Ehli, general manager of Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises, said the project is designed to deliver consistent power while lowering energy bills for residents and community facilities. Danielle Wood, executive director of the Warm Springs Housing Authority, said the systems will support year-round reliability for homes and shared spaces.
The award advances the tribes’ priorities around energy sovereignty, affordability and long-term infrastructure investment.
