NESPELEM, WA – The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and Open Access Technology International, Inc. (OATI) have announced a collaboration to advance tribal energy sovereignty and resilience through the design and deployment of multiple microgrids across the reservation.
The program represents a significant step toward improving reliability, reducing outages, and providing long-term energy independence for the Colville Tribes, which is governed by four legislative districts: Omak, Nespelem, Keller, and Inchelium. The initiative is backed by federal and state grant awards and addresses vulnerabilities such as winter storm disruptions and wildfire risks.
The Colville Tribes microgrid program is rooted in the principle of energy sovereignty – the right of tribes to produce, deliver, and manage energy on their own lands. With the Colville Reservation served by multiple utilities offering varied levels of service, the ability to self-generate electricity provides resiliency and reliability for vulnerable communities and ensures critical services – including healthcare, commerce, and housing – remain powered during outages. Colville Tribes may also leverage the microgrids to offer additional grid benefits to local utilities and/or engage in energy markets as they evolve and grow.
“Since the Colville Reservation is in a remote location, subject to natural events like winter storms and fires, it has always been difficult for us to sustain a reliable supply of power,” said Jarred-Michael Erickson, Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. “Our hope is that this microgrid technology will not only keep our lights on, but will also position us for new economic opportunities.”
OATI is delivering project design and development services, hardware, and its GridMind platform to support the microgrids through resource management and market integration. Planned sites include: Nespelem HQ Campus (Lucy F. Covington Government Center), Paschal Sherman Indian School (PSIS) Community, and Keller and Inchelium Districts.
Future expansions envision integration with gaming operations and potential data centers, supported by tribal-owned utility and telecom infrastructure.
“OATI is proud to support the Colville Tribes in creating a resilient and sovereign energy future,” said Sasan Mokhtari, President & CEO of OATI. “We’re seeing tremendous interest from tribal communities in pursuit of energy sovereignty. Microgrids are more than backup power – they empower communities to shape their own energy destiny.”
With multiple microgrids underway, Colville Tribes is establishing itself as a leader in tribal energy innovation. The partnership not only secures reliable power, but also positions the tribe for new economic opportunities, including data center hosting and advanced commercial development on tribal lands.
