Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s �Sustainable Energy Projects
SPARKING CHANGE: Diversifying our Regional Economy
����Fond du Lac Band Strategic Energy Vision
The Fond du Lac Band believes that its Energy Vision should blend in with other objectives like economic development, job creation, and cultural values. In support of its long-term strategic energy planning effort, as well as its overall mission, the Band has adopted the following Energy Vision:
The Energy Vision of the Band is to maximize the efficiency of energy usage and develop energy resources in ways that will sustain current and future generations by addressing the economic, environmental, and social issues of energy within the context of Fond du Lac Band’s culture, traditions and established tribal policies for the wise use of our sun, forest, water, and wind resources.
Strategic Energy Plan Options: Energy Conservation, Energy Generation and Administrative Actions
2003: Fond du Lac Housing built 25 energy efficient passive solar homes with an average of 25% reduction in space heating costs.
2009: CIP funded energy audits on tribal buildings. LED and high bay T-8 lights reduction energy use by 15%. Pay back 2.5 years.
2010: LEED Resource Management Building: 12-kW solar system, passive solar and solar reflective tubes for interior lighting.
2015: Hired Noresco to perform an investment grade audit on 24 buildings. Signed a 4.7 million energy services contract for water reduction, interior/exterior LED lighting, new boilers, occupancy controls, air handling units & building operating software.
2016: We installed a 1 megawatt, 5-acres solar array commissioned on August 22, 2016. Utilizing 3,230 solar panels, the solar field has offset Black Bear Casino Resort’s total energy use by about 10%.
2018: Sawyer Community Center Biomass District Heating project, 1.7 MM btu biomass boiler, 138 tons of wood chips replace over 13,000 gallons of propane annually. Award winning, fully automated design with in-floor wood chip air drying system.
2020: We partnered with the National Indian Carbon Coalition on a Forest Carbon Sequestration Project to verify forest inventory data, determine carbon dioxide sequestration levels and develop a voluntary market forest carbon sequestration project that generates revenue for land purchase and renewable energy projects while preserving the forest and reducing carbon dioxide.
2021: Fond du Lac Council enacted a charter of incorporation for the Fond du Lac Tribal Utility Corporation.
2022-2024: FDL worked with LHB Inc to design an 8-megawatt solar array and biomass district heat for Brookston Community.
2024-2025: Brookston Biomass District Heat Building that will provide 3 MM btu of waste wood heat and electricity for the community.
Commercial Scale Biomass District Heat�Sawyer Community Center Biomass Building
Renewable Energy and Conservation
4
Commercial Scale Wood Waste Utilization�Sawyer Community Center Biomass District Heat
Renewable Energy and Conservation
5
chip feed system.
chips before they are
fed into the boiler.
chips per year
Commercial Scale Solar Energy �Black Bear Casino Resort Solar Site
Biomass Building Foundation
8
16,253 gallons per year.
117 tons of CO2 per year.
Brookston Biomass District Heat Building
Renewable Energy and Conservation
9
Brookston Biomass District Heat Building
Residential Scale Renewable Energy:
Renewable Energy and Conservation
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2/4/2025
5-residential solar electric systems and 7-solar hot air systems have been installed
Residential Scale Renewable Energy:
11
2/4/2025
Out of 5 solar electrical systems, 4 systems are 3kW total energy offset systems.
The 5th system is unique because it’s a 1.5kW DC system that feeds a domestic hot water tank. Together they all total 13.5 kW of renewable solar energy.
Energy Conservation
In 2010, Resource Management Division constructed the first LEED building in Carlton County. The building has offset its energy use by installing a 12-kW solar system, employed passive lighting, and solar reflective tubes for interior lighting.
Noresco Energy Services Contract Savings Breakdown
Energy Conservation: Noresco Savings Breakdown
2/4/2025
The Environmental Program partnered with Noresco to perform an energy savings audit on Fond du Lac owned buildings.
Twenty-four buildings were identified with the greatest need for energy conservative measures.
The energy conservative measures included water, interior/exterior lighting, boilers, controls, and air handling units.
Renewable Energy Challenges
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa have been committed to energy efficiency and carbon offset projects while living in a seasonably harsh climate.
Challenges
Conclusion
Renewable energy and conservation will continue to be important for the Fond du Lac Band. Benchmarking residential and commercial buildings will help us monitor costs and emissions. Community outreach and education will help us remain a leader in the efforts to cut CO₂ emissions. Those efforts are noticed by state and federal elected officials who will continue to help us with funding renewable energy and conservation projects. With funding and staff efforts we can achieve sustainable outcomes.
PARTNERS��Division of Energy and Mineral Development�Department of Energy�National Renewable Energy Laboratory�Heating the Midwest with Renewable Energy�National Indian Carbon Coalition�Midwest Tribal Energy Resource Association�Environmental Protection Agency�United States Department of Agriculture�United States Department of Housing and Urban Development�Minnesota Department of Agriculture�Minnesota Department of Commerce�University of Minnesota�Minnesota Power�Noresco�
Questions ?
Resource Management Division
Arianna Northbird
Environmental Program Manager
Phone: 218-878-7106
AriannaNorthbird@fdlBand.org
Bruno Zagar,
Energy Projects Manager
Phone: 218-878-7165
Steve Douglas,
Facilities Operations Director
Phone: 218-878-7144