Project Description

Deep in the Coachella Valley, the tribe's reservation is a desert environment entirely below sea level, with an average elevation of minus 90 feet. Strong, consistent winds cross the desert floor, indicating that wind power might be viable for this underdeveloped reservation. The Augustine Band has recently adopted a Five-Year Development Program that stipulates that the conservation of energy and reliance on alternative energy resources comprise its highest priority. The tribe has taken several other steps that will be useful in the development of a thoughtful strategy for developing energy infrastructure on the reservation. This energy options analysis will build on these previous steps and includes a survey of possible alternative energy resources and conservation measures that support the tribe's Five-Year Development Program.

Project Status

The project is complete. For details, see the final report.

The project was competitively selected under the Tribal Energy Program's fiscal year 2005 solicitation, "First Steps Toward Developing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on Tribal Lands," and started May 2006. The October 2006 and November 2007 presentations provide more information.

Project Contact

Karen Kupcha
Phone: 760-365-1373

<p><strong>Tribe/Awardee</strong><br />Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians</p><p><strong>Location</strong><br />Yucca Valley, CA</p><p><strong>Project Title</strong><br />Energy Conservation and Alternative Energy Resources Development</p><p><strong>Type of Application</strong><br />First Steps (Planning)</p><p><strong>DOE Grant Number</strong><br />DE-FG36-06GO1616018</p><p><strong>Project AmountsProject Amounts</strong><br />DOE: $65,140<br />Awardee: $0<br />Total: $65,140</p><p><strong>Project Status</strong><br />Complete</p><p><strong>Project Period of Performance</strong><br />Start: September 2006<br />End: July 2008</p>