Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Native-led grassroots environmental justice. Our Mission: We help Tribal members and communities move towards energy independence. Our Way: As members of the Oglala Lakota nation, we provide culturally relevant educational opportunities for people like us. We have 3 project Pillars. Solar Energy Education; providing a professional-level Pre-Apprenticeship Readiness Program (Pre-ARP). This Program is creating solar designers, project managers, and solar installers to lead tribal communities toward energy independence. Weatherization Program; An all-Native crew runs The Native to Native Energy Sovereignty Weatherization program, grant-funded by the Department of Energy. The Lakota Thiyuha Project; offers innovative housing that is affordable, sustainable (cellular concrete), and easy to heat; increasing workforce development as we hire only Natives.

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I am not sure there is a more climate vulnerable
community than the Pine Ridge Reservation in South
Dakota. It surely has been one of the poorest counties
in the United States for decades. More broadly, the
reservation was created in areas where no one else
wanted to live, because it was and continues to be
extremely hot, cold, dry and windy. In our program, we
are constantly looking for new women "Solar
Warriors" and we have Gloria Red Cloud as RCR's
Women's Program Specialist. All of our more than
1,200 students have been Native American. All want
to help their tribe...and all tribes gain energy
independence through renewable energy. While most
of our students have been Youth... we have also had
several elders go though our training and become
advocates. Red Cloud Renewable is based on the Pine
Ridge Reservation, but it's focus is more regional and
national. in scope. Our graduates return to their tribes
as solar warriors...and advocate for more solar
projects.

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