ICAST (International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology), a 501c3 nonprofit, was awarded $10 million under the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program to install a 5 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) and 10 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) on Taos Pueblo lands in New Mexico, served by Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC).
Taos Pueblo is a federally recognized sovereign nation in New Mexico and the only living Native American community designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Place. The solar generation and battery energy storage capacity will be co-owned and managed by the Tribe's current utility service provider, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC). "ICAST is thrilled to partner with Taos Pueblo and KCEC to develop solar and energy storage assets that will benefit the Pueblo, its residents, and the entire community served by KCEC," said Ravi Malhotra, President and Founder of ICAST.
The project benefits include:
- A reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 279,210 tons.
- Significantly reduced utility costs for homes of Taos Pueblo members and Tribal buildings.
- Revenue diversification to help the Tribe become more financially resilient and create jobs/economic opportunities for members.
- Lower utility bills and energy resiliency for all KCEC members.
About ICAST. ICAST (icastusa.org) is a 501c3 nonprofit with a long history of designing and launching programs that positively impact low-income and disadvantaged communities by advancing access to clean energy, affordable housing, and local jobs. It currently administers demand-side management, demand response, Solar PV, WAP, and other clean energy programs across the nation. In 2024, it will invest over $75M in green projects for the benefit of low- and moderate-income (LMI) households in underserved communities. Since its founding, ICAST has served 131,962 LMI households, created 2,660 sustainable jobs, cut $281 million in lifetime utility costs, and abated over 4.9 billion lbs. of carbon emissions over the lifetime of the installed green solutions.