In an effort to establish itself as one of the leading tribes in Washington state for clean energy sustainability, the Nisqually Tribe has joined forces with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to upgrade lighting infrastructure across the reservation.
The collaborative effort aims to enhance energy efficiency, reduce electrical costs and illuminate a brighter, sustainable future.
“We’re definitely environmentally conscious,” Nisqually Tribe Building Department Director Wayne Lloyd said. “I see one day the tribe will be independent and off the grid. That is really the goal of the tribe with renewable energy.”
The partnership began earlier this year when Tommy Winslow, PSE’s outreach manager, conducted a solar energy presentation for the Nisqually Tribe. During the event, Winslow noticed the potential for improvement in the reservation’s lighting system.
“It was kind of dark in our community center gym,” Lloyd said.
The Nisqually Tribe and PSE spent about a month retrofitting and upgrading the lighting in various key locations throughout the reservation, such as the youth center, the elders and daycare building and other crucial facilities.
The efforts to retrofit nearly 700 lights across different buildings have yielded promising results. The Tribe anticipates reducing electrical costs by an estimated $150,000 over the next decade because of the retrofit.
“Now it is ultra bright in those buildings but not an overbearing bright,” Lloyd said. “It’s great lighting, and everybody has been commenting on it, and we’re also saving on our energy bill.”
The Nisqually Tribe’s commitment to clean energy sustainability aligns with its broader vision for a greener future. Lloyd noted that the Tribe has completed several solar projects and is looking into hydrogen energy. Solar panels have been installed on the Tribe’s Medicine Creek Enterprise headquarters on the reservation, the gas pump roof on the Nisqually Market near the administration building and the Elder’s building, which is already generating enough electricity to pay for its own building and take money off the bill for the administration building. PSE was a partner with a grant for Elder’s Center solar panels.
“I know our casino’s energy price is $2 million annually, and we have a giant parking structure,” Lloyd said. “So why don’t we have solar panels to offset that? That is a big chunk of money.”
Winslow said that PSE has worked with several businesses in retrofitting their power and making them more energy efficient. Its small business programs include free energy assessments, commercial heating and cooling, commercial LED lighting, food service and commercial kitchen appliances and more.
“We offer different upgrades at no cost for customers since funding comes from an energy efficiency program that all customers contribute to, focusing on energy conservation,” Winslow said. “You name it, and we’ve worked with it, from mom-and-pop shops to grocery stores and commercial buildings.”
Winslow added that making a more energy-efficient grid means there is less demand for energy. Money saved from not having to constantly make big infrastructure upgrades means more money going back into the community.
PSE said it’s extremely appreciative and proud to be able to work with the Nisqually Tribe on this project and that they are already working on Phase 2, which improves additional reservation facilities.
“Our goal is to not only be a leader of tribes in the Northwest but the nation when it comes to sustainability,” Lloyd said. “We want to make the biggest impact for any tribe.”
Tribal membership has expressed to the tribal councils to adopt more green energy as part of a better future for the next seven generations and be lighter on the planet. The Nisqually Tribe also has three electric vehicles and one hybrid with charging stations and designs for more charging stations and vehicles.
To see more info about PSE’s small business programs, go to https://www.pse.com/en/business-incentives/small-business-programs.
