Janet Conklin
Research Fellow
Celebrating Tribal Communities leading the clean energy transition
Each November, the United States celebrates Native American Heritage Month — a time to honor the traditions, languages, and stories of Native peoples and to recognize their enduring contributions to the nation’s past, present, and future. The celebration acknowledges both the resilience and the ongoing vitality of Native communities. It’s a moment to reflect on histories too often overlooked, to celebrate cultures that continue to thrive, and to recognize the leadership of Indigenous peoples in shaping a more sustainable and equitable future. This month, Generation180 is spotlighting renewable energy wins at tribal schools and within tribal communities — stories that reflect how clean energy is advancing sovereignty, resilience, and opportunity across Indian Country.
Zuni Youth Enrichment Project | Zuni Pueblo, NM
In the high desert of western New Mexico, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project (ZYEP) is proving that clean energy can power much more than buildings — it can sustain culture, opportunity, and pride. Established to nurture the holistic well-being of Zuni youth, ZYEP serves more than 1,000 young people each year through programs grounded in traditional Zuni values. Every activity is designed to strengthen cultural identity, build resilience, and empower youth to thrive.
This year, ZYEP announced a milestone in that mission: a 26.9-kilowatt solar installation at the Zuni Youth Center, with support from Everybody Solar. The array will generate over 48,000 kilowatt hours of clean electricity annually — enough to offset a significant share of the center’s energy use while avoiding more than 74,000 pounds of carbon emissions.
By covering the majority of the roughly $60,000 project cost, Everybody Solar is enabling ZYEP to redirect energy savings toward expanding programming. Those savings will help fund more cultural education, after-school activities, and wellness initiatives that reach hundreds of Zuni children and families. But for ZYEP, the benefits of going solar extend beyond dollars and kilowatts: sustainability is also a teaching opportunity. The organization plans to use the project as a hands-on learning tool, integrating renewable energy education into its programs through youth presentations and community outreach. In remarks shared with Native News Online, ZYEP Executive Director Tahlia Natachu-Eriacho said, “By harnessing clean energy, we’re not only reducing our environmental impact but also creating more opportunities for our youth to thrive.”
In September, ZYEP celebrated the project’s launch with a ribbon-cutting that reflected its mission — turning a standard ceremony into a vibrant community gathering. The event brought together more than 70 youth and families, Zuni Royalty, tribal leaders, and a visiting delegation of Indigenous students from Ecuador’s Andes and Kichwa Otavalo communities.
Through dance, sport, shared meals, and storytelling, the day became more than an energy milestone — it was an exchange of culture and celebration of connection. Zuni and Ecuadorian youth shared practices around food, land, and community, finding common ground in their relationships to place and tradition.
“We talked about how [going solar] is a commitment to our future generations,” said Natachu-Eriacho in Native News Online. The event underscored how renewable energy can bridge generations and cultures, reinforcing the idea that solar isn’t just technology; it’s a continuation of stewardship and connection to the land.
Beyond the ceremony, ZYEP’s solar project embodies a deeper movement taking shape across Indian Country — one where Tribes, schools, and community organizations are reclaiming control over their energy futures. Across the United States, Tribal Nations face an energy burden 28% above average and experience 6.5 times more outages than the national average. Projects like this one are part of a growing effort to change those statistics through community ownership and resilience. By producing clean power on site, ZYEP is insulating itself from price volatility, keeping more dollars in the local economy, and building a tangible model of energy sovereignty.
The organization’s approach reflects the spirit of Native American Heritage Month — celebrating heritage while building a stronger future. ZYEP’s solar installation embodies that balance: it honors traditional values of stewardship and community care while embracing innovation that supports the next generation. By investing in clean energy, the project demonstrates how Native communities are leading the way toward sustainability on their own terms — strengthening cultural identity, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that future generations inherit not only a livable planet but one with a living culture.
Curious to see how other tribal schools and communities are leading the clean energy transition? Be on the lookout for our upcoming blogs on clean energy wins in Tribal communities across the country. From the Pine Point Resilience Hub in Minnesota to the Local Solar Access Fund providing $20 million for clean energy in tribal, rural and low-income communities in New Mexico, these projects are showing what local leadership and energy sovereignty look like in action.
