Ramona Reservation Renewable Energy

**Housing and Ecotourism**

**Power System Project**

# Final Report

**Cooperative Agreement \# DE-FC48-99R810675**

**Period of Performance: 9/30/99 -- 9/30/2002**

**Project Title: Conservation Research and Development**

**Prepared by Recipient**

**DOMESTIC TECHNOLOGIES, Inc.**

**PO Box 44**

**29025-A Upper Bear Creek Rd.**

**Evergreen, CO 80439**

**Phone: 303 674-7700**

**Fax: 303 674-7772**

**E-mail: <dti@domtech.com>**

**Technical Contact: Malcolm Lillywhite**

Table of Contents

**Executive Summary 1**

**I. Project Overview 2**

### A. Background {#a.-background .unnumbered}

1\. The Opportunity

2\. Reservation Location

**II. Project Goals and Objectives 4**

## Project Goal

#### B. Project Objectives

##### C. Project Scope of Work

> D. Tribal Economic Development Goals and Objectives

## 

**III. Project Activities 8**

> A. Problems Encountered
>
> B. Technical Accomplishments
>
> 1\. Reservation Site Meetings
>
> 2\. Wind Resource Assessment
>
> 3\. Load Profiles
>
> 4\. Renewable Energy Hybrid System Design
>
> 5\. Environmental Analysis
>
> 6\. Training and Tribal Capacity Building
>
> 7\. Operation and Management Plan (O/M)
>
> 8\. Economic Analysis

#### **IV. Benefits 14**

**V. Conclusion 15**

**VI. Recommendations 16**

**VII. Lessons Learned 17**

**VIII. Photos of Ramona Reservation and Project Area 18**

###### 

###### 

###### **Executive Summary**

This final report presents information developed under this DOE-funded
project by Domestic Technologies (DTI), the Ramona Band of Cahuilla
Mission Indians (Tribe) and some of its contractors during the period
from September 30, 1999 to September 30, 2002. This Cooperative
Agreement (project) was awarded to DTI to provide technical support to
the Tribe for reservation hybrid system design, system performance
monitoring, cultural impact analysis, and training of Tribal members in
the operations and maintenance of their hybrid energy systems. The DOE
project served as the common thread (renewable energy) over this
three-year period that wove grants from nine (9) agencies into the
overall fabric comprising the Ramona Reservation Development Program.

The Ramona Reservation is located in the San Bernardino National Forest
on completely undeveloped land. A HUD grant awarded to the Tribe in 1999
provided approximately \$102,000 for electric power lines, mini-grids,
and related environmental impact studies. All power line route options
had to go through USFS and BLM land and had to be underground, which
would create a visible scar 20' wide along a 7 to 9 mile route causing
erosion problems and negative view shed impacts. The total cost of this
line would approach \$115,000 and utility rates would begin at 12.8
cents per kWh plus a surcharge, and could increase each year by as much
as10-15%. After considering a number of economic development projects,
the Tribe decided to develop an ecotourism and training business powered
by renewable energy technologies. Such a project will fit well with the
Tribe's desire to preserve natural resources, generate tribal revenues,
offer job opportunities to tribal members, and benefit other tribes by
providing information and training in renewable energy technologies and
applications.

The Ramona Reservation Master Development Plan and Economic Development
objectives remain unchanged over the last three years. The reservation
cultural and economic development strategy is based on the use of
renewable energy/energy conservation technologies which will provide 90%
of the electrical/thermal energy needed to meet the demands of the
tribal housing complex and the Ramona ecotourism and training
businesses. The tribal business revenues will be derived from tourism
and training product and services sales. The hybrid renewable energy
system makes possible the operation of this remote ecotourism business
and provides an important tool for training other Native Americans to
replicate this model on their reservation. The Tribe has taken three
years to organize and obtain funding to implement this program. Nine
federal agencies including DOE as well as state agencies, universities,
community colleges, cultural centers and other organizations have been
part of the development of this highly evolved program. These include:
DOE, HUD, HUD-CDBG, USDA-RD, IHS, CA Dept. of Mines and Geology, Bureau
of Reclamation, USFS, and University of California.

Seventy percent of this project's objectives were achieved. Performance
evaluation of the housing complex renewable energy hybrid system was not
completed because it wasn't until the third project year (2002) that the
Tribe had received all the funding (grants) necessary to purchase the
hybrid energy systems (and construct the ecotourism buildings).
Consequently it was not possible to conduct system performance
evaluation (Task Two) under this agreement, and the project was closed
out one year earlier than planned. Performance evaluation of all energy
systems will now be conducted under a DOE Cooperative Agreement award
made to the Tribe in September 2002.

**I. Project Overview**

This final report presents information developed by Domestic
Technologies (DTI) the Ramona Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians (Tribe)
and some of its contractors during the period from September 30, 1999 to
September 30, 2002. The period of performance for the Cooperative
Agreement between DOE and DTI in support of the Tribe was originally
scheduled from September 30, 1999 to September 30, 2003 to allow for
performance evaluation of the housing complex renewable energy hybrid
system which was to be installed during this period. However it wasn't
until the third project year (2002) that the Tribe had received all the
funding necessary to purchase the hybrid energy systems (and construct
the ecotourism buildings) and consequently it was not possible to
conduct system performance evaluation (Task Two) under this agreement,
so the agreement was closed out one year earlier than planned.
Performance evaluation of all energy systems will now be conducted under
a DOE Cooperative Agreement award made to the Tribe in September 2002.

The Ramona Reservation Master Development Plan and Economic Development
objectives remain unchanged over the last three years. However
activities necessary to accomplish these objectives have been refined.
The reservation cultural and economic development strategy is based on
the use of renewable energy/energy conservation technologies which will
provide 90% of the electrical/thermal energy needed to meet the demands
of the tribal housing complex and the Ramona ecotourism and training
businesses. (Propane will be used as a back-up energy source.) The
tribal business revenues will be derived from tourism and training
product and services sales. The hybrid renewable energy system makes
possible the operation of this remote ecotourism business and provides
an important tool for training other Native Americans to replicate this
model on their reservation. The Tribe has taken three years to organize
and obtain funding to implement this program.

Several federal agencies including DOE as well as state agencies,
universities, community colleges, cultural centers and other
organizations have been part of the development of this highly evolved
program. The following is a partial list of contributing and funding
agencies:

-   DOE Cooperative Agreement #DE-FC48-99R810675 \$182,000

-   HUD - Housing \$390,000

-   HUD-CDBG - Ecotourism Infrastructure \$550,000

-   USDA-RD - Ecotents \$490,000

-   IHS - Water System \$ 60,000

-   DOE -- Macro Grid Hybrid System (9/30/02) \$280,000

-   CA Dept. of Mines and Geology -Seismic In-kind Services

-   Bureau of Reclamation -- Water System In-kind Services

-   USFS -- NMR and Fire Control In-kind Services

-   University of California -- SD -- Inventory In-kind Services

The DOE project served as the common thread (renewable energy) over this
three-year period that wove these agencies into the overall fabric
comprising the Ramona Reservation Development Program. Much of the
effort expended under this project was in the education of tribes,
Tribal members, and funding agencies about applications of renewable
energy technologies on reservations and powering remote economic
development businesses.

###  **Background**

1.  **The Opportunity**

The Ramona Reservation is located in the San Bernardino National Forest
on completely undeveloped land. The National Forest is used for skiing,
hunting, camping, and hiking. A HUD grant awarded to the Tribe in 1999
provided approximately \$102,000 for electric power lines, mini-grids,
and related environmental impact studies. All power line route options
had to go through USFS and BLM land and had to be underground, which
would create a visible scar 20' wide along a 7 to 9 mile route causing
erosion problems and negative view shed impacts. The total cost of this
line would approach \$115,000 and utility rates would begin at 12.8
cents per kWh plus a surcharge, and could increase each year by as much
as10-15%.

This issue of power has been difficult for the Tribe to address. Due to
the remote and rural location of the reservation, extension of power
lines is expensive and environmentally and aesthetically undesirable.
Because the Tribe is surrounded by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of
Land Management lands, the issues related to acquiring access permits
for power line easements, and the need to install power lines
underground results in a very costly undertaking. In addition, tribal
lands house many archaeologically sensitive areas that could be
disturbed by the installation of numerous power poles and trenches
through the reservation. As a result, the Tribe determined that on-site
renewable energy would be the most cost-effective long-term solution to
power tribal residences and economic development activities.

After considering a number of economic development projects, the Tribe
decided to move forward with an ecotourism lodge and training facility
project. Such a project will fit well with the Tribe's desire to
preserve natural resources, generate tribal revenues, offer job
opportunities to tribal members, and benefit other tribes by providing
information and training in renewable energy projects and applications.

2.  **Reservation Location**

The Ramona Band of Mission Indians Reservation was established on
December 27, 1891 by Executive Order under President Benjamin Harrison.
Present day members of the Ramona Tribe are direct descendants of the
last Shaman for the Tribe. In the past, tribal members had their own
plot of land to live on, farm, and collect medicinal herbs for the use
of tribal people. The last ceremonial house of the Cahuilla Mountain
Tribes existed on the Ramona Reservation. In 1935, the Medicine Bundle
was buried on this reservation. The Ramona Tribal burial grounds also
exist on the reservation.

Today, Ramona Tribal members still live on this land and make use of the
many gifts from nature that flourish there. The reservation is located
on the Southwest side of Thomas Mountain and has been protected from
pollution from outside sources and damage of lands that has occurred on
so many other reservations in Southern California. The cultural history
and natural resources of the Ramona Reservation are important to tribal
members who wish to insure that the reservation remains undisturbed and
in its natural state.

A wide variety of natural herbs and plants grow wild on the Ramona
Reservation. White sage, herbasanta, elderberry tree, and milkweed are
scattered throughout the entire reservation and are used for medicinal
and ceremonial purposes. Plants such as the piñon trees, yucca plant,
and wild cherries are used for food. A large amount of natural cultural
plants still exist on the reservation. Deer grass, Spanish daggers, and
Indian paintbrush are used for weaving baskets, which is one art the
Cahuilla Nations are known for.

The tranquil and natural surroundings of the reservation are an ideal
setting for ecotourism. Wildlife travels freely in and around the
reservation without interference. Hunting is not allowed on reservation
lands. Due to the fact that the reservation is bounded by U.S. Forest
Service lands on one side, and Bureau of Land Management lands on
another side, natural resources are generally not threatened by
outsiders.

Ecotourism, tied with a renewable energy system, will continue to
protect the tribal culture and preserve the natural habitat. With
renewable energy, the Tribe will be able to create a successful
ecotourism enterprise that will generate revenues in a manner consistent
with tribal goals to preserve and protect natural resources. The serene
surroundings will allow people to get away from the hectic pace of their
everyday lives. Visitors would be able to unwind and fill their days
with relaxation, quiet, hiking, enjoying the environment, and learning
about Indian culture. Due to the remote rural location of reservation
lands coupled with renewable energy technologies and the tribal
development policies, the Tribe can offer a visit free from overcrowding
which will insure that the ambiance is not destroyed and the habitat is
not disturbed. The Ramona Band of Mission Indians are eager to share
their rich history and cultural and natural resources with others that
wish to learn some of the ways of Native Americans.

The reservation is located at the confluence of the San Jacinto and Buck
Ridge seismic fault zones. This imposes more stringent design
requirements for buildings but will not affect the design of the
elevated platform ecotents and training center structures due to their
innate flexibility.

**II. Project Goals and Objectives**

## 

The objectives of this DOE project were the foundation for the creation
of the Ramona Reservation Master Economic Development Plan goals and
objectives. Therefore a summary of both sets of objectives are provided
below to demonstrate how well renewable energy technologies can respond
to tribal needs and how compatible these new technologies are with
traditional values and beliefs.

## **A. Project Goal**

To develop and penetrate the renewable energy power market for off-grid
housing and economic development applications on Native American lands
and buffer zones.

####  **B. Project Objectives**

-   To demonstrate the reliability, cost-effectiveness, market
    potential, and replicability of a variety of renewable energy power
    generation, (i.e. PV, wind, and propane hybrids) and passive and
    active solar thermal commercial systems on Native American lands and
    buffer zones as well as on other rural lands not supplied by a
    utility grid.

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-   To demonstrate how renewable energy power systems can be used to
    eliminate the environmental impact of electric grid power lines on
    Indian lands, National Forests, National Parks, other protected
    areas, and the general rural environment.

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-   To build a renewable energy powered ecotourism infrastructure as
    part of a modern Native American village that will be used for a
    tourism business and as a Native American "hands-on" training center
    (business).

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-   To provide employment for the Ramona Tribe and a "green"
    electrification model to generate employment for other tribes using
    a variety of renewable energy power systems.

-   To develop a renewable energy power system procurement
    specifications, a procurement process training manual and materials
    which the Ramona Tribal trainers will use to sell on-site training
    services to HUD, IHS (Indian Health Services), and other tribes.

-   To monitor power system technical performance and
    sociological/cultural impacts over a three (3) year period using
    tribal members and a Native American company ("TERO") to collect
    data and operate and maintain equipment with on-site training and
    back-up by DTI staff.

#####  C. Project Scope of Work

The scope of work for this project includes the following:

**Task One-- Renewable Energy Power System Design:**

-   The participant will design and prepare procurement specifications
    for a 10 kW and a 25-30 kW PV (wind) propane or diesel hybrid system
    to power the Ramona ecotourism lodge. This system will have
    user-friendly features to facilitate appropriate training methods
    and will accommodate the option of a wind turbine at a later date.

-   The participant will develop load profiles for the ecotourism lodge
    based on the building design provided by DTI under the HUD CDBG
    grant

-   The participant will develop a conceptual design, preliminary
    engineering schematics, load profiles, and cost estimates for a
    single power system that would supply electricity to the entire
    reservation including housing and ecotourism lodge, shop, well water
    pumping, and other demands. The preliminary design would be used for
    cost and performance, O/M requirements, and training applicability
    comparison to the stand-alone system proposed herein.

-   The participant will prepare bid solicitations to announce bid
    competition to U.S. suppliers and will evaluate the bids in
    cooperation with the tribal partners and National Renewable Energy
    Laboratory (NREL) to select supplier(s).

-   The participant will oversee installation of power systems by
    suppliers.

-   The participant will install a tower with anemometers and solar
    radiometers to assess the site-specific wind and solar insolation
    characteristics in cooperation with NREL's National Wind Technology
    Center.

-   The participant will coordinate on-site installation and system
    integration and compatibility testing of renewable energy equipment,
    monitoring units, and training features of energy and water systems
    installed as a part of this project.

-   The participant will develop design and procurement/construction
    documents to expand the renewable energy hybrid well water pumping
    and distributions systems to provide service for the entire
    reservation water demand.

######## Task Two -- Monitor and Evaluate Power System Performance

-   The participant shall install a computerized data logging system
    that will record the critical performance parameters necessary to
    assess the technical and cost performance of each power system. This
    monitoring will continue for three years using trained tribal
    members for daily oversight and DTI as technical backup for tribal
    members.

######## Task Three -- Develop Power System Modules and Replication Package

-   The participant will design, field test, and validate training
    modules which will be used by the Ramona tribal trainers and
    consultant trainers to conduct orientation, procurement, and
    Operations and Maintenance (O/M) workshops for other tribes.

-   The participant will develop a Native American Renewable Energy
    Remote Power Systems Replication Kit to be given to trainers at
    workshops. The kit will consist of generalized power systems
    characteristics, U.S. systems suppliers and costs, and procurement
    specifications for soliciting bids.

-   The participant will develop O/M training modules and procedures in
    cooperation with suppliers, NREL, and the Tribe which will be used
    to train tribal maintenance staff attending workshops. These modules
    will be designed to access suppliers or service contractors via
    Internet or phone for technical assistance.

-   The participant will conduct a series of pilot workshops for
    training of trainers and partners from the Ramona Tribe, other
    tribes, and related Native American organizations that can be
    involved in installation and maintenance of the renewable energy and
    water distribution systems used in this project. The objective of
    this task element shall be the targeted replication of ecotourism
    development on other Native American lands. The training shall
    involve experienced personnel from DTI, DOE, NREL, and vendors.

######## Task Four -- Reporting Deliverables

-   The participant will prepare systems performance reports as systems
    start up, and annually for each of the three system monitoring
    years.

-   The participant will write an annual project progress report
    presenting the progress of the overall project, including training
    programs, ecotourism business development, and survey results from
    tourists, trainers, and tribal members.

-   The participant will prepare a project final report at the end of
    the fourth year summarizing the findings and recommendations of the
    components reporting process.

-   As part of the Final Report, the participant shall develop a plan
    for sustaining the integrity of the project after the period of
    performance is completed. This plan might include such factors as
    routine system maintenance and operations, funding provisions for
    system parts replacement, and provisions for management
    responsibilities to assure the integrity of the renewable energy
    system installed. The participant shall work with DOE in
    incorporating the concept of sustainability into the required
    education and training element of the project. DOE shall provide
    staff from appropriate national laboratories to instruct Tribal
    members in the techniques and methods involved in system
    sustainability. This portion of the project shall be coordinated
    through the designated DOE Project Manager.

-   The participant will prepare a project final report at the end of
    the fourth year summarizing the findings and recommendations of the
    components

**D. Tribal Economic Development Goals and Objectives**

The Ramona Band has decided to make their reservation non-gaming tribal
land that generates all electrical and thermal power used by tribal
members' housing, tribal offices and its economic development ecotourism
and training businesses. Therefore the Ramona reservation will not be
dependent on the interstate electrical grid system for power, heat, and
communications. In taking this action, the Ramona tribe will be the
first "off grid" reservation with full renewable energy power for all
facilities on the reservation. This will be accomplished using proven
commercially available renewable energy and building technologies that
will provide all modern conveniences and tourism amenities without using
utility generated electricity. This action will make a statement to
other Native Americans and to the American and international ecotourism/
cultural tourism market that will position the Ramona Band and its
neighboring tribes in a totally unique position to exploit this
ecotourism market niche. This will also position the Tribe as the only
Native American owned facility to train other rural/ remote Native
American tribes to adapt this model to their residential and economic
development needs.

The Ramona Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians has determined that their
priority economic development need is the development and implementation
of a sustainable, proven, and culturally appropriate eco-tourism
enterprise. Eco-tourism with sustainable natural resource management and
renewable energy systems will serve to protect the Tribal culture and
preserve the natural habitat. With this approach, the Tribe will be able
to create a successful ecotourism enterprise that will generate revenues
in a manner consistent with Tribal goals - to create employment and to
preserve and protect natural and cultural resources. This ecotourism
business and a training center pavilion, restaurant, a store and
ecotents will provide the business base for the Tribe to achieve its
broad based goals.

The broad goals of this economic development strategy described above
are as follows:

1.  To provide employment for Ramona Tribal members and a "green"
    electrification model other tribes can adopt to generate employment
    using a variety of renewable energy power systems, green niche
    tourism marketing and customized training technologies.

2.  To establish a highly profitable renewable energy powered ecotourism
    business as part of a modern Native American reservation.

3.  To establish a training business that provides renewable energy
    technology and tourism development on-site training services to
    those served by HUD, IHS (Indian Health Services), and other tribes.

4.  To monitor the performance and the social/cultural/ and economic
    impacts of tourism and of new technologies used in this project by
    collecting technical performance and socioeconomic data.

5.  To demonstrate the reliability, cost-effectiveness, market
    potential, and "replicability" of a variety of renewable energy
    power generation options (i.e. PV, wind, and diesel or propane
    hybrids) and solar thermal systems on Native American lands.

6.  To demonstrate how renewable energy power systems can be used to
    eliminate the environmental impact of electric grid power lines on
    Indian lands, National Forests, National Parks, other protected
    areas, and the general rural environment.

7.  To demonstrate how an ecotourism business-based natural and cultural
    stewardship tribal land management plan can forge new working
    relationships between tribes and Federal Agencies (NFS, BLM, etc.)
    that enhance the small tribes' business development and natural
    resource management potential.

**III. Project Activities**

Many of the activities proposed for execution under this project were
dependant on grant awards from other agencies and prompt timely
decisions by those agencies and by the Tribe to execute these grants.
This did not happen for a variety of reasons which are discussed under
the section "Problems Encounter" below. However 70% of the tasks
proposed under this project were accomplished. The comparison of
complete and incomplete milestones can be seen in the Final Report
Schedule. Because the reservation housing renewable energy hybrid
systems were not purchased and installed and the ecotourism
infrastructure was not built during this three-year period, it made it
impossible to complete the system performance evaluation, training
modules, and related tasks. These were the only tasks not completed
under this project.

A number of activities were executed under this DOE project out of
necessity and were not included in the Cooperative Agreement. These
activities centered around the education of Tribal members and
particularly participating Federal and state agencies. Working with the
California Department of Mines and Geology, the US Geologic Survey, and
the California Uniform building Code Office to develop seismic
engineering guidelines for tower structures, ecotents, and the
underground macro electrical grid broke new ground within these agencies
and for remote power systems industry where seismically active areas are
concerned. Meeting with other tribes to discuss their interest in
renewable energy may be the most rewarding of these ancillary activities
in the long run. The fact that the DOE project was there, in place, for
three years gave credibility to the concepts being promoted and support
was available to keep Tribal momentum moving towards completing their
economic development program while they were trying to obtain funding
for other components of their Master Development Plan. Finally it can
now be said that the Tribe has all major program components funded at
this time.

**A. Problems Encountered**

The Ramona Reservation Development and Economic Development programs are
funded by seven to nine different agencies with as many budgets, grant
agreements, different timelines, and difficult regulations. This is and
will continue to be true for most Native American Tribes that use
government or private grant funding for development projects on the
reservations. The way Federal and State funding is made available to
Tribes makes planning and designing a reservation-wide economic
development program comprising several projects and funded by several
agencies very complex -- even when traditional structures, interstate
grid power, and conventional businesses are the basis for the
development. Agency proposal cycles are staggered; grant awards may or
may not be forthcoming; and implementation regulations differ from one
agency to another. The Ramona program is subject to those conditions and
has added to this complex mix two new factors which further complicate
and slow down this process: 1) using an off-grid renewable energy
powered reservation grid, and 2) using a non-traditional business model
(i.e. ecotourism) which incorporated non-traditional structures and
amenities. When a renewable energy powered off-grid reservation energy
system is added to a multi-agency funded economic development program,
extra effort and time are required to educate the tribe and associated
funding agencies of its value and how it works. The same is true for
ecotourism. Explaining how renewable energy will reduce long-term
reservation and business costs and improve the tourism business "green"
market appeal of the products or services produced must be fit into each
agency's grant niche.

Traditionally tribes submit proposals to HUD, BIA, IHS, USDA-RD, i.e. to
design and build houses, develop water supplies and reservation business
structures or create a business. Each proposal to each agency usually
has a single function or component and manifests as a single separate
project. Normally each funded project can be executed relatively
independently of the others, i.e. houses can be built on their own
schedule and business structures and operations can have their own
implementation schedule. However when a renewable energy hybrid central
grid or several renewable energy mini grid systems were incorporated
into the Ramona tribal development program, this changed. In the Ramona
case, it also added another agency, DOE (and NREL/NWTC). The primary
complication results from the fact that the size, cost, location and
design of the central RE hybrid systems depends on the electrical and
thermal load profiles, location and design of all structures/uses which
it serves. Therefore all facilities or energy uses must be completely
designed and engineered before electrical and thermal load profiles and
other conservation design factors can be used to determine the size,
configuration and cost of the central renewable energy hybrid systems.
This requires that design and engineering for separately funded projects
for housing, business structures, water pumping, etc. be completed prior
to the design of the energy system and therefore the grant awards for
these projects must be solicited, proposed, and made before the energy
system can be designed. This is difficult for tribes to do because of
funding cycles, uncertainty of grant awards, and their project and
program management capacity. The net result is that it will usually take
a longer period of time to implement a multi-agency renewable energy
reservation program (sum of the projects) than to implement a similar
program using grad-supplied electricity. Part of this problem results
from the fact that DOE/NREL/NWTC are project initiators and the
promoters of renewable energy projects on tribal lands and the
traditional agencies that fund tribes' economic development projects are
unfamiliar with renewables and their funding cycles are not synchronized
or coordinated with the DOE/NREL/NWTC initiatives. If this were
corrected, RE projects should not require long periods of time to
implement.

The Tribe was also developing its organization structure, management
capacity and office facilities during the last three years. This
resulted in preoccupation by the Tribal administration with inter and
intra-tribal issues and in some instances, this project and related
projects did not get prompt attention. The Tribe now has a staffed
office and a cadre of consultants and service providers and much of this
problem has been eliminated. Most of the delays in project
decision-making are now due to the availability of Tribal members and
its cadre of advisors for meetings and teleconferences. This problem
should be minimal once all grant funded project contracts are awarded
and daily decision-making is delegated to contractors.

The Tribe found it necessary to involve their legal advisor in the
details of this project and others after a non-performances issue by an
excavating contractor working on site preparation for housing
construction occurred. While this was probably a necessary step by the
Tribe, the degree of this involvement and the required time to bring the
legal advisor up to date on this and other projects, coupled with the
staggered grant awards, essentially put a hold on most of the work that
DTI could have been doing for the Tribe for almost a year. This resulted
in increased cost by DTI in the execution of Ramona related tasks. It is
hoped that if the Tribe awards contracts promptly and aligns all project
activities with a synchronized, coordinated master program schedule that
this type

of delay will be minimal in the future. Based on this experience with
the Ramona Tribe over the last three years, DTI believes that technical
problems with renewable energy components and systems have and will
continue to be a minimal problem in the implementation of the program.

**B. Technical Accomplishments**

1.  **Reservation Site Meetings**

During the period of performance DTI made five trips to the Ramona
Reservation for meetings and mini-workshops including as session to
raise a 30m anemometer tower and installing the central data logger
system. In addition a Tribal delegation traveled to Denver to meet with
DOE and DTI in the spring of 2002.

The meetings held at the Ramona reservation were primarily for
orientation, education, or training purposes. This was possible because
the technical nature of the material being presented by DTI was new to
Tribal members, i.e. system design options, lifestyle impacts of
renewable systems options, required appliances, maintenance, siting,
etc. Numerous teleconference and phone conversations, e-mails, and
blueprint mailings have been used to maintain the flow of information
between DTI, the Tribe, and its advisors on this project in between site
visits.

2.  **Wind Resource Assessment**

A NRG NOW anemometer sensor system on a 30m tower was installed by
Tribal members as part of a training activity conducted by DTI under
this project in July of 2001. A NRG 9200 data logger was also installed
and Tribal members have been successfully managing data collection since
the installation. NWTC and DTI have been transferring the wind data from
the 32 KB chips sent by the Tribe every two weeks. A preliminary wind
assessment analysis was conducted in January 2002 which included only a
five-month data collection period. These results are shown on the
Resources Assessment Graphic Profile. The results were preliminary and
inconclusive. The next analysis will be conducted in October 2002,
representing a 15-month data collection period and this information will
be used to design and configure the reservation hybrid system.

The tower location is shown on the Ramona Reservation Master Site Plan
aerial photograph as being the east wind turbine location, positioned
several hundred yards south and east of Hog Lake and north of the "Old
House" (@32°19' x 116°42'29" or Universal Transverse Mercator Coordinate
System GPS location 3719475 x 527250). This location is in the
ecotourism infrastructure cluster. Additional anemometer towers may be
installed on the ridges surrounding this ecotourism development zone to
evaluate wind resources for powering remote ecotents. The terrain and
vegetation are discussed in the "Reservation Location" section. A
standard 7.5 minute series topographical map of the Anza Quadrangle
showing the reservation is available.

3.  **Load Profiles**

Electrical and thermal demand load profiles as well as appliance
specifications and costs of the Ramona solar housing development units
and the ecotourism infrastructure (i.e. restaurant, office, ecotents)
and training center were developed under this project and summaries are
available. These profiles are comprehensive and self-explanatory.
However these profiles are based on specific solar housing and
ecotourism structure designs and if these structures are not built to
these design specifications or building materials are altered, these
profiles may no longer be accurate. For budgetary and construction
management reasons, the Tribe is considering housing design changes and
the ecotourism structures have not been through the final design and
approval phase yet. Therefore the load profiles and hybrid system
configuration will probably change. These changes will be incorporated
into the design activities of the 2002 DOE Cooperative Agreement award
to the Tribe for design and procurement of a central renewable energy
macro grid hybrid system to power the ecotourism complex.

4.  **Renewable Energy Hybrid System Design**

The Housing Complex (2 houses) renewable energy (PV/wind/propane) hybrid
system was designed and bid solicitations were sent to suppliers as
scheduled. No qualifying bids were received. The reason for this was
probably due to the extensive HUD boilerplate requirements including
performance bond (25% of the total contract value) and the Native
American small business preference clause. It is not clear at this point
whether the Tribe will procure the housing hybrid energy system
components directly and install them as part of their training program
or solicit bids again combined with the larger ecotourism macro grid
hybrid system. The Tribe has contracted DTI to complete engineering of
the system so they will have these options and will be able to install
the underground grid themselves. The water pumping subsystems design for
the housing complex was completed and the well, power lines, pipe
distribution, and storage tanks are all installed.

System performance and optimization computer modeling has been done for
the housing, water pumping, ecotents, and ecotourism infrastructure
using the HOMER model developed by NWTC. The housing/water pumping
analysis is considered final but the tourism modeling is preliminary
because the associated structure and energy loads have not been
engineered yet. The system configurations being considered for each
hybrid system are shown below:

[Housing Complex/Water Pumping/RE Micro-Grid Hybrid System
Configuration]{.underline}

-   10kw wind turbine capacity with controls

-   1.5kw large photovoltaic modular array

-   Dual axis solar tracking units

-   Cool cell batteries plus storage box

-   Continuous inverter

-   12kw propane generator

-   Two propane storage tanks

[Ecotourism Infrastructure]{.underline} [Macro-Grid Hybrid Power
System]{.underline}

-   40-50kw wind turbine capacity with controls

-   10kw photovoltaic modular array

-   20 dual axis solar tracking units for PV array

-   FLA (forklift) battery banks (not all centralized)

-   15kVA continuous inverter with 175A disconnect

-   20kw propane generator integrated rectifier

-   Power station building 12' x 16'

-   Monitoring system, inverter, breaker box, wiring, etc.

The final design process of the ecotourism hybrid system is being
executed under the September 2002 Cooperative Agreement to the Ramona
Tribe. This activity will determine whether the two hybrid systems
should be stand-alone interconnected or combined into one reservation
wide macro grid system.

5.  **Environmental Analysis**

Numerous environmental impact analyses associated with grants awarded to
the Tribe (i.e. HUD, USDA-RD, etc.) have been conducted by the Tribe to
meet these grant requirements for the impact of housing construction,
ecotourism infrastructure construction, well water system supply, etc.
and all of these analyses have included the renewable energy systems
being used to power these facilities. These analyses have demonstrated
that the Ramona concept for reservation development has more flexibility
to have minimal negative impact on flora, fauna, and cultural/historical
resources than more traditional development approaches. This is
primarily due to the use of renewables and to the "minimal footprint"
design of structures being built on the reservation. The most apparent
short-term environmental benefit was the elimination of a 7 to 9 miles
above ground power line to the reservation that would have crossed USFS,
BLM, and private land. This benefit is only enhanced by the fact that
the Tribal economic development strategy (ecotourism) is based on the
use of "green" energy. A byproduct that has resulted from these
environmental reports is that many of the participating agencies are now
interested in exploring broader applications of renewable energy, remote
power systems, energy conservation, and "soft" architecture in rural
areas.

6.  **Training and Tribal Capacity Building**

The scheduled project training activities were only partially completed
because the equipment, systems, and construction of houses, ecotents,
etc, could not take place during this time period. The necessary funding
for other agencies to build the ecotourism infrastructure was received
by the Tribe in late 2001. The Tribe solicited and received competitive
bids to design and build these structures however chose to wait until a
later date to award these contracts. At the completion date of this
project, these subcontracts still have not been awarded. It is expected
that these awards will be made soon so that all of the tribal
development program components will be started up in parallel.

Most of the training activities undertaken by this project were informal
educational discussions in meetings, telephone conversations, or via the
transmission of data, documents, and analyses summaries. A workshop was
conducted for Tribal members in conjunction with the 30m anemometer
tower raising in July of 2001. Pursuant to the workshop, the Tribe has
been managing data collection and could provide training to other tribes
in this procedure.

7.  **Operation and Management Plan (O/M)**

DTI was not able to complete the O/M plan for this project because the
Tribe was not able to build any structures or procure and install any of
the renewable energy equipment that the O/M plan would be based on. The
long-term resource assessment management component of the plan has been
in place since July 2001 and is working well. This baseline O/M
structure using Tribal members can be expanded to include more complex
system maintenance as they are installed.

8.  **Economic Analysis**

The Tribe's economic development strategy is to sell "green" tourism
products (tours) and renewable energy training services for other Native
American tribes using renewable energy technology to power these
infrastructures. The Tribe is not selling (exporting) energy. The sample
Cash Flow Projection for Green Path Resorts (a representative
corporation typical of Ramona) was developed. These projections assume
50% annual average occupancy and yield a 26% IRR, 99% 5 year ROI and a
37% 10 year IRR. These projections are in keeping with other similar
community based projects that DTI has managed in Africa and the
Caribbean and are considered to be conservative. If the Tribe can
achieve a 70-80% occupancy rate, the IRR values will almost double and
the ROI will increase substantially.

**IV. Benefits**

There are two categories of benefits that accrue to the Tribe from the
DOE project and the use of renewable technologies to power their
reservation: 1.) low cost or free energy to power their housing complex
as a subsidy from the Tribal tourism business, and 2.) a range of
benefits from the ecotourism business powered by renewable technologies.
This project focused on both of these development sectors and therefore
the combined Ramona program benefit will be discussed here in.

The economic benefits to the Tribe accrue primarily from the ecotourism
business operation revenues, secondarily from the training business
revenues, and thirdly from long term energy cost savings and reliability
of power for the reservation. These revenues are very large when
compared to a successfully operated casino on tribal lands. This is
shown in the business cash flow and pro forma projections. In spite of
the wealth that the Tribe could accumulate from their businesses, the
major benefit may be the pride that is felt by being the "first" to
achieve this degree of independence in terms of tribal "energy"
sovereignty and by being able to teach other Native Americans to
replicate this business on their reservations.

Therefore, there are a number of benefits that can accrue to the Tribe,
to Native Americans in general, and to Federal and state agencies
through dissemination of information to other tribes without having to
continually fund this process from outside sources. Some of these
benefits are quantifiable and some are not quantifiable. Both types are
extremely important to the adoption of renewable energy systems by
ethnic peoples domestically and internationally.

The "green" market added value achieved by combining renewable energy
and ecotourism will greatly increase the value and marketability of
tribal ecotourism and training products and services and of renewable
energy products and services. This is particularly true in the
ecotourism market. The increased "green" added market value can often
make small scale hybrid renewable energy systems commercially
competitive domestically without subsidy while satisfying the individual
tourist's desire to purchase "green" products and services. This project
uses this marketing phenomenon to make renewables more attractive to
Native Americans and their customers (i.e., ecotourists, spiritual and
heritage tourists, trainees, organic/ethnic food producers, etc.).

Specific quantitative economic benefits include:

-   Full and part-time employment and revenue generation for Tribal
    members and their neighboring community on the reservation without
    disrupting cultural activities and lifestyles of the community.

-   Reduced recurrent cost of energy (i.e., utility bills) to Tribal
    members housing and businesses while improving their quality of
    life.

-   Dissemination of a Native American economic development model based
    on renewables through on-site "hands-on" training of other tribes in
    the technology options, procurement process, operation, and
    maintenance of the renewable energy demonstration systems.

-   Demonstration that the negative environmental impact and cost of
    electric power line grids on tribal lands and protected management
    areas can be eliminated.

Specific unquantifiable benefits are:

-   The feeling of independence, self-sufficiency, and financial
    security which tribal members may achieve by using their own
    resources.

-   The satisfaction of living modern lifestyles without damage to
    sacred archaeological sites, culture, or the surrounding
    environment.

-   Helping other tribes to achieve the same standard of living and
    cultural pride as the Ramona Mission Indians.

The ultimate use of the renewable energy power system funded by this
application and used by the Tribe will be to reduce their cost of energy
and provide a livelihood by educating others about these systems and
their culture. The harmony between the "green" technologies, the land
and culture will be featured though tourism and training activities.
Part of the Ramona Reservation will be a showcase of power and solar
thermal systems, part of it a private reserve (including the National
Forest) for ecotourism, and another part will be a secluded village for
tribal residents. This is truly an interesting and unique mix of the new
and the old for others to experience.

**V. Conclusion**

DOE/NREL/NWTC are the lead agencies in the United States promoted the
use of "renewable energy development on tribal lands." As such,
DOE/NREL/NWTC have become involved in the "development" (economic
development) business by virtue of the applications of renewable energy
technologies. Therefore DOE/NREL/NWTC are playing a role different from
and additional to energy R&D and commercialization roles which are well
established. The lead agency role in promoting new technologies in a
developing environment is one of long-term commitment and perseverance
coupled with cultural sensitivity, and being able to manage projects and
provide technical support in new and creative ways. This can be seen by
looking at the history and track record of USAID, the World Bank, UNDP,
and other development agencies' renewable energy, natural resource
management and agricultural technologies programs in the 1970s -- 90s.
Native American lands are a more defined target than the whole
developing world but there are many programmatic and cultural
similarities between their environments.

In short for DOE/NREL/NWTC to be successful in this endeavor, it will
take a sustained effort, flexible management, and making good use of
feedback from tribes and contractors (i.e. listening to what tribes are
saying even if it seems to be coming from non-commercial energy
perspectives) -- in short "build trust". The following general
conclusions have been reached by DTI during the project.

-   Small renewable energy hybrid systems may be more costly on a per kW
    basis but they are much easier for tribes to relate to and
    understand. The benefits of a small system can be immediately and
    directly perceived by tribal members if it reduces or eliminates
    their electricity bill and powers an enterprise owned by the tribe.
    Native Americans are largely visual, experiential, hands-on
    learners. Programs incorporating small systems used for economic
    development may still take 2-4 years to complete the whole program
    but wind farms may take 5-10 years because they are abstract and
    their benefits are hard to define while their disbenefits (i.e. view
    shed) are obvious. Small hybrid systems can help overcome tribal
    skepticism and serve as a bridge among tribes (particularly small
    tribes) leading to the possibility of more rapid acceptance and
    development of larger interstate grid connected wind farms on
    reservation lands.

-   Installing a central renewable energy hybrid power system to power a
    reservation requires a substantial educational effort to help tribal
    residents prepare for lifestyle changes and impacts and for O/M
    responsibilities. For example, the purchase of appliances and use of
    electricity in the renewable-powered home are different than what
    they may have been used to when living in a prefabricated house
    powered by an interstate grid. To make the decision to be off grid
    requires tribal members to be informed about these lifestyle changes
    and to be willing to accept them without feeling cheated or
    second-class.

**VI. Recommendations**

-   DOE/NREL/NWTC should develop a strategy for funding small to medium
    systems for on-reservation economic development that gradually
    builds trust, educates tribes, and generates confidence in the
    technology and which could lead to acceptance of and investment in
    larger wind farms.

-   As the lead agency in promoting renewable development on tribal
    lands, DOE/NREL/NWTC should make sure that the timeframe of Native
    American economic development projects which DOE funding is provided
    for is sufficient to allow tribes to obtain all additional funding
    necessary from other agencies and sufficient to implement all
    projects as a coherent program.

-   DOE/NREL/NWTC should fund or help create projects on tribal lands
    that provide immediate or short term perceived benefits to tribal
    members.

-   DOE/NREL/NWTC should promote intra-agency renewable development
    information dissemination and specifically to agencies that work
    with tribes on a regular basis (i.e. HUD, HIS, BIA, USDAA-RD and
    state agencies).

-   DOE/NREL/NWTC should promote and support projects that promote
    "Indian to Indian" promotion and communication about the options for
    renewable development on tribal lands.

-   DOE/NREL/NWTC should promote and fund multi-tribal hands-on training
    and education activities on reservation lands (i.e. anemometer tower
    raisings, systems installation, school and clinic projects).

**VII. Lessons Learned**

The lessons learned from this projects overlap in this report with
information provided in other sections (i.e. III. A. Problems
Encountered, IV. Conclusions, V. Recommendations). The comments in this
section therefore will only focus on how to improve the execution of the
new 2002 DOE Cooperative Agreement award to Ramona and other similar
renewable energy based reservation development programs.

-   Procurement of small RE systems using HUD funding has not been
    successful in obtaining high-quality bids from experienced
    suppliers. This is due to several factors but the primary barrier is
    the HUD regulations that a supplier must meet and the cash
    performance bond a supplier must submit with the proposal. This
    situation must be overcome to enable small businesses to participate
    in the bid process by either bundling projects to achieve larger bid
    values or by simplifying bid requirements.

-   Traditional funding agencies that work with tribes (primarily HUD)
    initially had difficulty in understanding, accepting the economics,
    and in evaluating the Ramona proposals that combined off-grid
    renewable energy hybrid power systems and ecotourism as an economic
    development strategy. This has improved in the western regional
    offices over the last three years but efforts should be made to
    expand this cross agency education process.

-   The program development and management framework for staggered
    multi-agency funded projects that comprise a renewable energy based
    tribal reservation development master plan have and will continue to
    be the most challenging task facing the Tribe (see section III. A.
    Problems Encountered)

-   The degree to which technical problems would have affected the
    project or the Ramona development program could not be completely
    assessed during this project because the necessary equipment was not
    installed. However the DTI experience in working with the tribe on
    technical tasks has indicated that the technical O/M problems will
    not be a significant barrier in this case. Tribal members and their
    employees have a high degree of aptitude for mechanical hands-on
    tasks and have executed them safely and in a timely manner.

-   The experience from this project has confirmed what previous Native
    American and foreign community based projects have revealed --
    implementation of renewable energy projects must move at a pace that
    does not exceed the tribal capacity to understand and administer
    them and that allows a trusting relationship to develop between the
    tribe and the participating outside organizations.

**VIII. PHOTOS OF RAMONA RESERVATION AND PROJECT AREA**

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="5.506944444444445in"
height="3.053472222222222in"}

View of Reservation Area from Anza, CA

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="5.506944444444445in"
height="3.6465277777777776in"}

Typical Area of Pristine Reservation Site

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="5.5125in" height="3.645138888888889in"}

Looking East Towards the San Bernardino National Forest

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="5.507638888888889in"
height="3.7868055555555555in"}

Looking Northeast from the Reservation

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="5.506944444444445in"
height="3.1069444444444443in"}

Site of Dry Lake and Fault Zone Area

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="5.509722222222222in"
height="3.3569444444444443in"}

Old Reservation Facility in Northwest Sector

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="6.5in" height="4.730555555555555in"}