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The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska’s Path to Energy Independence

Through new solar and battery systems, the Tribe is building clean, reliable power that strengthens sovereignty and community resilience.

Partner
  • ITKN
Project
  • Solar, Battery, Backup Microgrid System
0+
Residents and Essential Services Supported
$0M+
In Grant Funding for Tribal Energy Independence
0MW
Solar Capacity Planned — Enough to Power 100+ Tribal Homes and all Critical Facilities
10%
Managed and Operated by Tribal Members

Project Overview

Grey Snow Sovereign Solutions (GS3) is partnering with the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (ITKN) to design and build a community microgrid system that brings clean, reliable power to the reservation. 

The project includes new solar arrays, battery storage, and backup generation—creating a modern energy network capable of supporting homes, businesses, and critical Tribal services even during outages.

Backed by the U.S. Department of Energy and developed in collaboration with national laboratory partners, the project unites engineering, cultural review, and community engagement into a single effort. 

Together, ITKN and GS3 are laying the foundation for long-term energy sovereignty. Reducing dependence on outside utilities, lowering costs, and building local capacity to operate and expand clean energy systems for generations to come.

Live

Project Updates

May 25, 2026•

The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska’s energy systems project has progressed through detailed engineering and is advancing toward final design completion.

All major systems, including solar panels, battery energy storage, microgrid controls, and site infrastructure, have been integrated into the design. The main equipment, such as transformers and solar parts, are now being purchased—positioning our team to build once plans are approved. 

The project continues to be developed in coordination with Tribal leadership, federal partners, and engineering teams to ensure alignment with program requirements and long-term community goals.

Recent Milestones

  • Completed 60% engineering design across all major systems 
  • Advanced 90% design for civil and mechanical plans 
  • Submitted Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) to EPA for final approval 
  • Received EPA approval to proceed with geotechnical pull-out testing 
  • Initiated procurement for major electrical equipment 
  • Continued coordination with Tribal leadership and federal stakeholders 

Community Engagement 

ITKN and GS3 are committed to maintaining open communication with the community throughout the project lifecycle. Outreach efforts include newsletters, social media updates, surveys, and in-person events to share progress, gather input, and ensure alignment with community priorities.

What’s Next

  • Finalize engineering design packages 
  • Complete the purchase of major equipment 
  • Prepare for construction mobilization and site activities 
  • Continue community engagement and stakeholder coordination 

Projected Impact 

This project represents a significant step toward energy sovereignty for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. By integrating renewable energy with advanced microgrid technology, the Tribe is building a resilient energy system that supports economic development, environmental stewardship, and long-term sustainability.

About GS3’s Work With ITKN

The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (ITKN) is partnering with Grey Snow Sovereign Solutions (GS3) to build a reliable energy system in order to attain energy sovereignty. This system will help the community stay independent, lower costs, and be prepared for the future. 

The project integrates solar panels, battery energy storage, backup generation, and advanced microgrid controls to provide reliable power for critical Tribal infrastructure. 

September 1, 2025•

Work this month focused on vendor selection, data collection, and early-stage design milestones. 

GS3 finalized negotiations with ELM Microgrid as the selected battery energy storage system (BESS) provider and began integrating this new configuration into the 30% design package. 

Data loggers were installed at ten sites across the reservation to capture real usage data for load analysis, while transformer and racking bids continued through evaluation. 
A new Community Outreach Coordinator joined the team to support engagement efforts, and the project’s Quality Management Plan (QMP) and Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) moved into development with Parametrix.

August 1, 2025•

August marked major progress on procurement and planning. GS3 submitted the purchase order for the BESS system to the EPA for review and began contracting with ELM Microgrid and Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED) for racking. 

A topographical survey for the solar array site was completed, and civil engineering and environmental coordination advanced with Native Strategies and the Tribal Historic Preservation Office. Outreach planning also took shape with GS3 developing a calendar of community engagement activities and an external communications plan for Tribal approval. 

Design work continued toward the 30% milestone, supported by updated load analysis confirming the system’s 2.2 MW of solar generation and 4 MW / 20 MWh of battery storage capacity.

Project Status

In Progress 70%

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

After evaluating multiple systems, the Tribe selected ELM Microgrid to deliver a storage solution capable of handling community peak loads. This milestone ensures backup power for critical infrastructure is moving closer to reality.

Latest Milestones:

    • Vendor Selected: ELM Microgrid
    • PO Submitted to EPA for Apprival
In Progress 40%

Transformers

Several competitive bids are in play. The current evaluation focuses on lifecycle costs and compatibility with the microgrid’s design. Choosing the right partner here will determine both efficiency and long-term reliability.

Latest Milestones:

    • Vendor bids received and under evaluation
In Progress 80%

Racking System

With racking secured, preparations for site mobilization are nearly complete. This marks one of the last steps before installation begins on the solar arrays

Latest Milestones:

    • Vendor selected: Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED
Complete 100%

Civil Engineering

The topographical map has given engineers a clear picture of the land. This ensures panel layouts maximize solar capture while respecting local terrain and water flow.

Latest Milestones:

    • Topographical mapping complete
In Progress 70%

Community Outreach

GS3 and ITKN are co-developing an outreach plan to keep community members informed. The next step includes workshops to answer questions and invite feedback on design choices.

Latest Milestones:

    • V1 of the outreach plan created
    • External communication strategy under Tribal review
In Progress 40%

Regulatory & Quality Plans

Our environmental and quality planning teams are working closely with Tribal Historic Preservation Officers to ensure every compliance measure is addressed before major construction begins

Latest Milestones:

    • QMP comments addressed
    • Draft Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) under

Let’s work together toward a brighter future.

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Learn More About Grey Snow Sovereign Solutions

Explore the depth of our services and support for Tribal energy projects.

End-to-End Microgrid Solutions

Discover our complete solutions for planning, funding, building, and sustaining Tribal energy projects.

View Solutions ▸

Solar Training Academy

Train with expert instructors at world-class facilities and prepare for a career driving Tribal energy sovereignty.

Explore Training ▸

Ongoing Workforce Development

Learn how we continue investing beyond energy projects to support, grow, and hand-off operations to Tribal members.

Learn More ▸

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ

The project aims to achieve energy sovereignty and give the Tribe full control over how power is generated, stored, and managed within its community. By building solar-powered microgrids with battery storage and backup generation, ITKN will gain reliable, locally managed electricity that supports homes, critical services, and future growth.

The project is being managed by Grey Snow Sovereign Solutions (GS3), a tribally owned company under Grey Snow Management Solutions, in partnership with the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (ITKN). 

The work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Power Resilience Grant (CPRG) program, with technical assistance from NREL, Sandia National Laboratories, and engineering partner Parametrix.

The system under design features 2.2 MW of solar generation, 4 MW / 20 MWh of battery storage, and 900 kW of backup generation, all connected through a series of five microgrids serving Tribal housing, government buildings, public safety facilities, and essential community services.

The project will provide clean, consistent, and resilient power, reducing outages that affect residents and businesses. It will also lower long-term energy costs, expand local workforce training in clean energy technologies, and establish a model for Tribal utility governance that supports future renewable energy development across Indian Country.

The project is currently in the design and procurement phase, with construction expected to continue through 2026. Key milestones include completion of the 30% design package in late 2025, followed by phased equipment installation and commissioning.

Unlike conventional grid infrastructure, this project is Tribal-led and community-owned. The microgrids are designed for local control and autonomy, allowing ITKN to determine how energy is distributed and reinvest revenues directly back into Tribal programs and infrastructure.

All work is proceeding in coordination with the Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) and Native Strategies to ensure environmental and cultural reviews are completed before construction. These processes ensure that the project aligns with the Tribe’s environmental values and respect for ancestral lands.

Yes. The Iowa Tribe and GS3 are committed to using the tools, data, and experience from this project to support other Tribal Nations pursuing clean energy and electrification. Training partnerships and shared modeling tools developed with NREL and Sandia will help other Tribes plan and deploy their own systems.