Tribal Utility

Text

The Blue Lake Rancheria’s utility authority, “Blue Lake Rancheria Department of Energy and Technologies” (DET) was formed in 2013 by Tribal Ordinance 13-02.

The DET works to attain energy self-sufficiency and to reduce GHG emissions in light of the established contributory effect GHGs have on climate change.

DET Objectives

  • Build and maintain decarbonized systems and resources
  • Advance resilient infrastructure and lifeline sectors (energy, water, food, transportation, communication/IT)
  • Reduce production of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
  • Support the Tribe’s economic and community development goals

DET Utility Services

  • Electricity
  • Fuels (e.g., biodiesel, electric vehicle infrastructure, natural gas, propane)
  • Water and wastewater services
  • Recycling
  • Sanitation
  • Telecommunications

Illustrative Utility Community Programs

  • Deliver cost savings via rapid transition to decarbonized energy sources
  • Low-carbon Electricity Microgrids
  • Deliver cost savings with Energy Efficiency, Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA), Virtual Net Metering, and similar programs.
  • Workforce development
    • With partners (e.g., GRID Alternatives; the National Renewable Energy Laboratory) support trainings and field study to create local jobs and increase tribal capacity.
  • Energy/water nexus
    • Smart water grid that serves the community as efficiently as possible.
    • Emergency water supplies
  • Energy/transportation nexus
    • Decarbonized transportation programs including transitions to electric vehicle (EV) transit system, green fuels (e.g., biodiesel manufactured from onsite waste oil), green commuting programs
    • Emergency transportation
  • Telecommunications – increasing digital connectivity and speed (e.g., broadband)
  • Green community resilience

Illustrative Utility Residential Programs

  • Energy Audits
  • Energy Efficiency Upgrades (lighting, heating/ventilation/air conditioning, water heating, insulation, appliances, others)
  • Solar PV systems for residences
  • Solar + battery storage systems for residences
  • Solar + storage + EV charging stations for residences
  • Low-income and hardship programs
  • Water system upgrades

DOET

Dept. of Energy
& Technologies:


TEL: 707.668.5101
FAX: 707.668.4272
EMAIL: info@
bluelakerancheria-nsn.gov

MAILING ADDRESS
(for U.S. Postal Service):

Blue Lake Rancheria
PO BOX 428
Blue Lake, CA 95525

OFFICE LOCATION &
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
(for FedEx, UPS):

Blue Lake Rancheria
1 Aiyekwee Loop
Blue Lake, CA 95525