The Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians, in partnership with the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), has completed installing solar and battery storage systems at three Tribal facilities on the Mesa Grande Reservation in San Diego County, California. The project marks the first public clean energy installation on the reservation and another step in the Tribe’s long-term pursuit of greater energy sovereignty.
Credit: The Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians
The project provides solar power and battery systems for the Tekamuk administration building, Hallyeyaaw administration building and Golden Eagle administration building. The three buildings serve as civic and community hubs, supporting Tribal government, housing services, cultural and educational activities, food distribution and emergency response.
The solar energy systems are designed to generate enough electricity to meet the three facilities’ current energy needs, with additional capacity for future growth. Together, the systems are expected to generate approximately 60 MWh of solar electricity annually and will save the Tribe at least $16,780 in electricity costs per year. Battery storage lets the administration buildings continue operating independently from the electric grid during outages in a rural community where power interruptions are common.
“Electricity is taken for granted by a lot of people. It’s not something you notice until the power goes out. But at Mesa Grande, it’s a reality we deal with regularly,” said Curtis La Chusa, chairman of the Mesa Grande Tribal Council. “Out here, outages can last days at a time. This naturally disrupts the services we can provide to our people.”
For Mesa Grande, the project builds on more than two decades of efforts to expand access to reliable, affordable clean energy. Grid electricity did not reach the reservation until the 1950s, and some homes remain disconnected from the electric grid today, relying instead on small generators to meet basic household needs. Over the years, Mesa Grande has pursued residential solar, renewable energy planning and workforce development. Four Tribal members who previously received solar installation training were employed on the project.
“Reliable, affordable energy creates opportunities for communities to invest in what comes next,” said Bob Freling, executive director of SELF, the nonprofit organization that facilitated the project. “By lowering energy costs and strengthening resilience, solar can free up resources while providing a sustainable foundation for future growth. We look forward to seeing how clean energy helps Mesa Grande reach its goals.”
The installation comes as the Tribe commences work on a long-term plan for new housing and community infrastructure. The plan includes 1,500 new homes, addressing housing affordability and supply shortages that have historically limited the number of members who can live on Tribal land. The development will include the first new housing built on the reservation since 2005.
“Mesa Grande has a bright future ahead of us,” La Chusa says. “It starts with letting our people come home and providing the spaces and services to help them thrive.”
This project was funded by the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation and others.
News item from the Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians
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