Zero Emissions Summit in La Jolla, California

Addresses “Energy Sovereignty” for Tribal Communities

La Jolla,  California  Clean energy innovators and financial advisors will gather on the campus of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, September 7 – 8, 2022 to help “Communities” learn to fund, build and sustain energy sovereignty.  Tribal representatives are encouraged to participate in this event as speakers and attendees. 

This event is meant to help deliver, “Clean Energy, Equitably, for all,” so communities of various types will attend.  However, programming specific to tribal communities will be featured. 

Jamul Indian Village Chairwoman Erica Pinto (Kumeyaay) will speak at this event on the “Unique Needs for Energy Resilience and Autonomy Among Tribal Communities.”  Numerous additional speakers will present technologies of special interest to tribes, such as microgrids.  These systems can provide enough energy to power homes, community centers, schools and infrastructure in tribal communities of any size or location – no matter how remote.  They are meant to create “off-the-grid” power, delivered by nature, not utility lines requiring structures that often disturbs sensitive cultural sites.  

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm are invited to speak.  Over 30 additional speakers will participate, including team members who worked with the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians to install a microgrid in their village.  

The recently approved Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides over $30 billion in federal funding for clean energy project, including those on tribal lands.  Allocation of those funds will be discussed at this Summit.  Financial and government representatives will speak on this topic, and be available to meet with community members to provide more information about funding programs.

In addition to Indigenous communities, other groups to attend will be Universities, Island Governments, U.S. Navy and Marines, School Districts, Municipalities, and more.  Many such groups facilitate energy programs within “semi-autonomous communities.”  Much like tribal communities, they can, and in many cases have, benefitted from their own micro-grid systems.  Lessons learned from their projects could help Indigenous Communities be more efficient in the systems they may choose to help provide energy resilience and sovereignty.  

“Energy is the new Gaming” is a new phrase in this industry.  Meaning, some tribes could create enough clean energy on their lands to sell back to local communities or utility companies.  Further, some reservations are in ideal locations for charging stations for trucking and delivery operations.  These, too, provide income opportunities for tribal communities, which could prove very profitable.  

The Zero Emissions Summit stresses diversity and equity, so all “Communities” are invited in the spirit of advancing clean energy and protecting cultural and natural resources.  To find out more about speaking, or simply attending this important event, please visit www.zesummit.com.