Since 2017, Lakota Law’s team has worked with leadership at the Standing Rock Nation to help bring clean energy to my homelands. We’ve now assessed solar potential on a dozen tribal government buildings, and for the past few months we’ve worked overtime to help my tribe prepare to apply for historic sums of grant money. President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act has earmarked as much as $100 million for individual low income communities — including tribal nations — to transition to low-carbon technologies.

Like most good things, finding the right way to take advantage of the massive solar and wind potential in the Dakotas has taken a significant investment of time and money — but we’re getting there! As they say, it takes money to make money, and that’s one reason I’m reaching out to you today. Please help us push through the homestretch of this grant and assessment process. Every dollar you can give now will help us save the tribe and its members so much more down the line. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for tribes to take a leadership role in the transition to cleaner, greener energy.

I’ve been working for years to increase solar and wind production on the Standing Rock Nation. High energy costs from our utility can leave our people without power during the Dakotas’ harsh winters. That’s not acceptable.

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, a $7 billion solar grant called “Solar for All” will make up to five $25-100 million grants available to different tribes or tribal consortia. The Lakota People’s Law Project aims to ensure that Standing Rock and several other South Dakota tribes can make their best case to collect and use a portion of these funds to install solar panels that will help the people pay less and stay safe.

That last part is important. In yet another example of injustice toward Native communities, tribal members at Standing Rock pay 33 percent more for electricity than people living just an hour away in Bismarck, North Dakota. That’s money most can’t afford to pay, which can result in life-endangering power shut-offs during winter months when midwestern temperatures can dip well below zero.

By collecting and storing energy from the abundant sun above the plains, tribal governments and communities can save — and even earn by sending power back to the grid. And by building out a cohesive clean energy system, Standing Rock and other South Dakota tribes can demonstrate a sustainable model for other tribal nations and communities to follow. I consider this to be one of the most important things I’ve ever worked on, and I deeply value your continued solidarity as we pursue this plan.

Wopila tanka — my gratitude for all of your care and support,
Phyllis Young
Standing Rock Organizer
The Lakota People’s Law Project