activities · 6
what they do
direct service · 5
- Emergency Relief and Supplies Distribution Emergency Supply DistributionDistributes essential supplies such as triage kits, battery replacements, Covid-19 donations, cellphone chargers, camp lights, and flashlight/chargers to families and relief groups in tribal communities.
- Off-Grid Solar PV System Development and Installation Off-Grid Solar Installation & TrainingDevelops and installs off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, typically around 2.3 kW, for Native American homes on Hopi and Navajo lands that lack grid-tied electricity, powering essential appliances and providing 5 years of operations and maintenance services.
- Off-Grid Solar PV System MaintenanceProvides maintenance services for off-grid solar PV systems installed in Native households.
- STEM Education for Youth STEM Showcase & Expo EventsConducts STEM activities for students in grades 4th through 12th, providing hands-on education related to solar energy.
- Solar Trailer Deployment Off-Grid Solar Installation & TrainingDelivers solar trailers to tribal communities, such as Standing Rock, for various uses.
capacity building · 1
- Solar Workforce Training Off-Grid Solar Installation & TrainingProvides solar workforce training programs, including classroom and hands-on workshops, to equip tribal members with skills to install and maintain off-grid photovoltaic systems, create jobs, and prepare them for grid-tied projects in Arizona, New Mexico, and Alaska.
strategies · 4
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Community-Focused and Partnership-Driven Implementation community_focused_developmentThe organization focuses its operations on bringing power and security to elders and communities in immediate need, particularly within Navajo and Hopi communities. They achieve this by collaborating with key partners and contractors to facilitate energy access for Native American families.
- Empowering Tribal Communities through Off-Grid Solar Electrification off_grid_solar_electrificationNATIVE RENEWABLES INC provides off-grid solar photovoltaic systems to Native American homes without grid-tied electricity, addressing the lack of affordable, clean energy access and enabling basic household electricity needs. This approach prioritizes unserved populations and aims to provide energy independence and cost/time savings compared to traditional generators.
- Indigenous-Led Solar Education and Workforce Development indigenous_led_developmentThe organization empowers tribal communities by providing solar education and workforce training, fostering Indigenous-led solar power knowledge and solutions. This includes employing Indigenous installers to deploy systems and educating applicants on the use and limitations of off-grid solar units, thereby building local capacity and expertise.
- Needs-Based and Durable Solar System Provision needs_based_solar_provisionNATIVE RENEWABLES INC ensures the effectiveness and longevity of solar solutions by conducting energy needs assessments to determine if systems can meet basic household energy requirements. They focus on installing appropriately sized solar PV systems (e.g., 2 kW capacity) and emphasize long-term system durability through proper maintenance, utilizing technical expertise in mechanical engineering and energy analysis.
named programs · 5
what they call their work
COVID-19 Relief
Delivered cellphone chargers, camp lights, and flashlight/chargers to relief groups and tribal entities in four tribal communities.
Hozho Homes Program
Provides Navajo and Hopi families with access to donated off-grid solar photovoltaic systems and supports a workforce development program for Native American solar installers.
Maintenance Services
Offers maintenance services for Native households that have off-grid solar PV systems.
Solar Education and Outreach
Educates tribal members of all ages about solar energy through classroom and hands-on workshops, community outreach, and STEM events.
Solar Workforce Training
Provides classroom and hands-on training for tribal members to develop skills for installing and maintaining off-grid photovoltaic systems.
relationships · 35
who they work with
- Alaska Partner — Co-hosted solar energy workshops in Alaska.
- American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Partner — Chelsea Chee worked as a Senior Program Officer at AISES. Debby Tewa is the recipient of the 2021 American Indian Science and Engineering Society Professional Award for Indigenous Excellence.
- Arizona Partner — Co-hosted solar energy workshops in Arizona.
- Arizona Energy Office Partner — Debby Tewa was previously employed as a Tribal Energy Coordinator with the Arizona Energy Office.
- Black Mesa Water Coalition Partner — Chelsea Chee started her work in Environmental and Climate Justice with the Black Mesa Water Coalition.
- Black Mesa Water Coalition Partner — Partnered on the first project.
- Central Arizona College Partner — Debby Tewa was instrumental in setting up a photovoltaic lab and taught classes at the college.
- ETKIE Partner — Chelsea Chee worked as a Director of Community with ETKIE.
- Echoing Green Partner — Suzanne Singer is a 2021 Echoing Green Fellow.
- Empowered By Light Partner — Partnered on the first project and the Standing Rock project.
- Entropy Technology Associates Partner — Jeff Roberts is CEO of Entropy Technology Associates and serves on the advisory committee.
- Forest Lake Chapter Partner — Partnered on the first project.
- Give Power Partner — Partnered on the first project.
- Goal Zero Partner — Provided products for COVID-19 relief kits.
- Google Partner — Alyssa Newman is Senior Program Manager, Responsible Supply Chain, at Google and serves on the advisory committee.
- Hopi Cultural Preservation Office Partner — Met with regarding permitting and surveys on Hopi land.
- Hozho Homes Program Partner — Solar workforce training is a component of the Hozho Homes Program.
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Partner — Suzanne Singer was a staff engineer and post-doc at the lab prior to founding Native Renewables.
- Makers4Good Partner — Provided products for COVID-19 relief kits.
- Mpowerd Partner — Provided products for COVID-19 relief kits.
- NM Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Partner — Chelsea Chee worked as a Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at the NM Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
- Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Partner — Partnered on the first project.
- New Mexico Partner — Co-hosted solar energy workshops in New Mexico.
- Opus Interactive Partner — Shannon Hulbert is CEO of Opus Interactive and serves on the advisory committee.
- Sandia National Laboratories’ Tribal Energy Program Partner — Suzanne Singer was an intern with the program prior to founding Native Renewables. Chelsea Chee worked in the Tribal Energy Program at Sandia National Laboratories.
- Solar City Partner — Partnered on the first project.
- Solutions Project Partner — Partnered to deliver solar trailers to Standing Rock.
- Tewa Energy Service, LLC Partner — Debby Tewa is the owner/president of Tewa Energy Service, LLC.
- Tewa Energy Services Partner — Partnered for classroom and lab activities on Residential Solar Energy Basics.
- The Solutions Project Partner — Sarah Shanley Hope is Vice President of The Solutions Project and serves on the advisory committee.
+ 5 more