The Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians, in partnership with the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), has completed solar and battery storage installations at three Tribal facilities on the Mesa Grande Reservation in San Diego County, California. The project marks the first public clean energy installation on the reservation and is described as another step in the Tribe’s long-term effort to strengthen energy sovereignty.
The systems serve the Tekamuk administration building, the Hallyeyaaw administration building and the Golden Eagle administration building. The three buildings function as civic and community hubs, supporting Tribal government, housing services, cultural and educational activities, food distribution and emergency response.
The solar systems are designed to meet the three facilities’ current electricity needs, with additional capacity for future growth. Together, they are expected to generate approximately 60 MWh of solar electricity annually and save the Tribe at least $16,780 in electricity costs each year. Battery storage allows the administration buildings to continue operating independently from the electric grid during outages, which the Tribe says are common in the rural community.
Curtis La Chusa, chairman of the Mesa Grande Tribal Council, said electricity is often taken for granted until service fails, but outages at Mesa Grande can last for days and disrupt the services the Tribe provides to its people.
The project builds on more than two decades of work to expand access to reliable, affordable clean energy. Grid electricity did not reach the reservation until the 1950s, and some homes remain disconnected from the grid today, relying on small generators for basic household needs. Over the years, Mesa Grande has pursued residential solar, renewable energy planning and workforce development. Four Tribal members who had previously received solar installation training were employed on the project.
Bob Freling, executive director of SELF, the nonprofit organization that facilitated the project, said reliable and affordable energy gives communities room to invest in future priorities. He said lower energy costs and stronger resilience can free up resources while providing a sustainable foundation for growth, and that SELF looks forward to seeing how clean energy helps Mesa Grande reach its goals.
The installation comes as the Tribe begins work on a long-term plan for new housing and community infrastructure. The plan includes 1,500 new homes and is intended to address housing affordability and supply shortages that have historically limited how many members can live on Tribal land. It will include the first new housing built on the reservation since 2005. La Chusa said Mesa Grande has a bright future, starting with letting Tribal members come home and providing the spaces and services they need to thrive.
The project was funded by the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation and others.