Summary

The study will assess the feasibility of a commercial wind facility on lands selected and owned by the Kaw Nation adjacent to the vacant Chilocco Indian School campus. The Kaw Nation will examine the potential for integration of the wind facility into a redevelopment plan for the property. Prospective wind power users include:

  • A proposed technical training center

  • A machine shop that will support a major aircraft manufacturer located in Wichita, Kansas

  • An integrated fuel management system using an innovative low-emission enhanced biomass diesel system provided by the Ho-Chunk Nation of Nebraska

  • Additional on-site enterprises, as identified by this study and by the on-going planning of the Kanza Economic Development Authority (KEDA).

Project Description

Objective

A major project goal is to identify a low-cost, sustainable source of renewable energy for our tribal housing, services, and enterprises in Newkirk, Oklahoma. The project goal is to identify the optimal source of low-cost, renewable energy to serve tribal members and enterprises, while providing opportunity for economic expansion on tribal lands. The objectives of the feasibility assessment, and the subsequent wind or hybrid system project development, are:

  • To maximize the economic benefits to the tribe

  • To create employment for tribal members and other Native Americans

  • To transfer Disgen's development knowledge to tribal members as a first step in creating tribal development capabilities.

Scope

The specific feasibility study activities focus on the qualification of the selected site as a candidate for the development, financing, construction, and operations of a commercial wind energy generation facility and the integration of that facility into planned redevelopment activities for the Chilocco Indian School campus. In order to be a candidate for commercial development, the site will require:

  • A wind resource with an annual average wind speed in excess of 13 miles per hour (mph)

  • A preliminary environmental assessment indicating no significant impact

  • An electrical transmission capacity sufficient to accept the energy from the project

  • A source of financing that results in economic viability.

The tribe has selected Distributed Generation Systems, Inc. (Disgen), of Evergreen, Colorado, as its contractor to manage and conduct the study under tribal supervision, and will conduct or create the following:

  • A wind resource assessment sufficient to obtain financing

  • A Phase I avian resource and environmental assessment

  • A review of a preliminary cultural assessment

  • A review of local transmission capabilities

  • A preliminary set of project economic projections

  • A determination of energy demand requirements and feasible planning horizons for development options

  • An integration plan for a hybrid wind-biomass energy system

  • A plan to integrate a diesel fuel supply into the hybrid system

  • Options for Native American employment and economic development

  • An energy-use sales survey to assess local and regional markets.

The Kaw Nation, subject to Executive Council approval, will proceed with project development contingent upon favorable alternatives identified by the feasibility study.

Project Location 

The Kaw Nation is a federally recognized, self-governing Indian tribe, located in Kay County, Oklahoma. The Kaw Nation has selected a tribally owned parcel of trust land as the subject of the feasibility assessment. The land is located in Kay County, Oklahoma, north of the community of Newkirk near the Oklahoma-Kansas state line. The property contains approximately 815 acres. Four other tribes own adjacent land, individually or in common with the Kaw Nation, creating a total trust land area of approximately 4,000 acres.

Project Status

This project is complete. For more, see the final report.

This project was competitively selected under the Tribal Energy Program's FY2002 solicitation, "Renewable Energy Development on Tribal Lands," and started in September 2002. For additional information, see the project presentations from October 2002, November 2003, October 2004, and October 2005.

For other information, contact one of the project contacts.

Project Contact

Clyde McCauley, Director
Kaw Nation Utility Commission
P.O. Box 50
Kaw City, OK 74641
Telephone: (580) 269-2552
Fax: (580) 269-1161
Email: cmcauley@kayserv.net

Betty Durkee
Sr. Program Development Specialist
Kaw Nation Grants & Contracts Department
400 East Central, Suite 405
Ponca City, OK 74601
Telephone: (580) 762-5297
Fax: (580) 762-7550
Email: B_durkee@sbcglobal.net

Dale Osborn, President
Distributed Generation Systems
2334 Pine Tree Lane
Evergreen, CO 80439
Telephone: (303) 674-2551
Fax: (303) 674-8185
Email: Daleosb@msn.com

B.L. Gaddis
Future Resources Engineering
2649 Williamsburg Drive
Bartlesville, OK 74006-7544
Telephone: (918) 335-1826
Email: blgaddis@msn.com

<p><strong>Tribe/Awardee</strong><br />Kaw Nation</p><p><strong>Location</strong><br />Kaw City, OK</p><p><strong>Project Title</strong><br />Kaw Nation Wind-Biomass Feasibility Project</p><p><strong>Type of Application</strong><br />Feasibility</p><p><strong>DOE Grant Number</strong><br />DE-FC36-02GO12107</p><p><strong>Project Amounts</strong><br />DOE: $194,280<br />Awardee: $85,511<br />Total: $279,791</p><p><strong>Project Status</strong><br />Complete</p><p><strong>Project Period of Performance</strong><br />Start: September 2002<br />End: April 2004</p>