Hallo,
ich möchte mit dem Bericht über Solar-Energie an dem obigen Bericht anknüpfen, um aufzuzeigen, dass Indianer mit konkreten Maßnahmen anfangen, ihr Umweltbewusstsein in die Praxis umzusetzen. In diesem bericht wird deutlich, dass Indianer den Einsatz von Solar-Energie durchaus realistisch einschätzen und nicht darauf schließen, ihre Armut durch Jobs in dem neuen Berufszweig völlig zu beseitigen.
LG many
Reservations prepare for going green
By Jomay Steen Journal staff | Posted: Monday, May 31, 2010 8:00 pm | (0)
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Larger font size A green company not only has harnessed the power of the sun
but has developed a unique workforce on at least two Native American
reservations.
Henry Red Cloud of Lakota Solar Enterprise manufactures and installs
residential solar heaters on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He also has
founded a school to train other tribe members to do the same.
“We’re doing training right now. I have four students from Cheyenne River
Indian Reservation learning how to install the solar air heater that we
manufacture,” he said.
The solar heater involves renewable energy, green construction and is energy
efficient, but it also requires maintenance and upkeep once it is installed,
he said.
Lakota Solar has installed about 500 residential solar heaters and, working
with other tribes to make the equipment, has created about 72 jobs in North
Dakota and South Dakota, he said.
This will soon include nine jobs and 175 more homes on the Cheyenne River
Indian Reservation, according to Arlen Lee, executive director of Oyate
Connections.
“Four members have already left for Pine Ridge for the two-week training and
five more have already gone through training and are installing the solar
heaters,” Lee said.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Department of Interior and
Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, are paying to train the
nine workers who will soon make up two teams of solar panel technicians to
cover the reservation in north central South Dakota, Lee said, as well as
paying for installing the solar heating systems.
“We’re retrofitting 175 separate homes for the elderly with another 75 to be
installed, pending proposal approval from the Department of Interior, at a
later date,” Lee said.
The homes selected are in the communities of Whitehorse, On The Tree, Green
Grass, Black Foot, Parade, Armstrong, Thunder Butte, Iron Lightning, Cherry
Creek, Red Scaffold, Bridger, Takini, Swift Bird, LaPlant, Timber Lake,
Eagle Butte and Dupree, which cover two counties in South Dakota.
He added that Henry Red Cloud’s Lakota Solar Enterprise solar heaters and
training of technicians may possibly launch a business in Eagle Butte in
collaboration with Four Bands Community Fund, a nonprofit agency that
support economic development on the reservation.
“It could change our status of having the highest unemployment rate (87.5
percent) in the nation,” he said.
Morgan Garreau, executive director of the Cheyenne River Housing Authority,
said the new solar heater installations taking place on the reservation
won’t affect the 600 rentals his office oversees, but it is a good idea.
“We are looking into this ourselves for the housing authority. We’re trying
to find a way to connect with solar power as well as wind power. It’s
something that’s down the road, but we’re interested,” Garreau said.
Last winter, which was especially severe, Garreau saw electric bills from
the local providers that were as high as $400 a month.
“I couldn’t get over that it was that high. These are people with fixed
incomes or no jobs. It was just amazing to me,” he said.
If a solar installation will cut 30 percent of the monthly heating cost of
$400, it makes sense to investigate the program, he said.
“We had to go out and buy 15 generators last winter and set up community
shelter throughout the reservation for all those people without power and
water,” Garreau said. “We know it’s going to happen again.”
Red Cloud said the solar heaters are cost effective and there is definitely
savings in regards to the heating bill.
“A family could save as much as 50 percent on their heating costs,” he said.
Lee agreed, which was one of the reasons the elderly were targeted for the
program.
“When you’re heating a home for the elderly, you’re probably heating the
home for the grandchildren, too,” Lee said.
Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or
jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.
http://www.rapidcityjournalcom/news/article_ba7af778-6d20-11df-bbd1-001cc4c03286.html