BAD RIVER, WI – The Bad River Tribe is taking a significant step toward securing reliable and sustainable energy with the groundbreaking of a 46,000-ft. upgrade to its existing natural gas line. Members of the Bad River Tribal Council, along with leaders and staff from the Bad River Health and Wellness Center, joined Xcel Energy representatives to mark the beginning of this crucial project, which will enhance energy reliability and safety for the community.
“This infrastructure is made possible through the cooperation and participation of many,” said Robert Blanchard, Chairman of the Bad River Tribal Council. “This is a historic project, opening the door to future projects that will benefit our tribal members for generations to come.”
“Xcel Energy is pleased to work with the tribe to facilitate the opening of its wellness center and projects to follow,” said Brian Elwood, Regional Vice President Xcel Energy, Wisconsin and Michigan. “We appreciate the opportunity to be a trusted partner and are grateful for the many contractors we worked with to complete the project safely and on time.”
The extended and enlarged line spans over eight miles from the top of Birch Hill, a community on the far east side of the Bad River reservation, down to the heart of New Odanah, where it will serve as a primary energy source for the expansion of the Bad River Health and Wellness Center. The high pressure 4” line will also accommodate future needs for additional community cornerstone projects and much needed housing for the tribe.
This extension of the natural gas line was made possible by the tribe’s friends and allies – the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Based near Highland, CA, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Tribe has been a friend to the Bad River Tribe, helping to fund the Public Safety Building and other cornerstone community projects.
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians gives in the spirit of yawa’ – to act on one’s beliefs – and has donated over $400 million to lift other tribes across the Nation and communities that dwell in the tribe’s ancestral lands. This significant gift – the largest from San Manuel to the Bad River Tribe – will provide the critical resources needed to complete this transformative infrastructure expansion, benefiting current and future generations
“Our commitment to providing sustainable resources for generations to come is a fundamental value that we share with the Bad River Tribe,” said Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “It is an honor to contribute to a project that will ensure the Bad River tribal community has access to resources necessary to thrive.”
This natural gas line is one of many projects to bring safe and sustainable energy options. The tribe has an expansive field of renewable energy solar panels to assist in providing electricity to power the clinic.
The tribe has garnered a U.S. Department of Energy grant to create one of the Midwest’s first solar powered microgrids. The installation will be coordinated with local distribution utility upgrades, as needed, and interconnected to the distribution system which will help to power a large percentage of tribal homes.
“Without our fellow Native family reaching out to help us, this entire operation simply would not have been possible,” said Blanchard.
