The Lumbee Regional Development Association (LRDA), in partnership with Eagle Solar & Light and Sunwealth, recently celebrated the commencement of LRDA’s new rooftop solar system. The 76-kW installation will save the nonprofit an estimated $8,200 in yearly utility costs. LRDA will receive a $56,250 rebate toward its installation through the NC Solar Rebate Program funded by Duke Energy. With the tightening of funding sources to tribal communities lacking federal recognition, such as LRDA, the funds from the NC Solar Rebate Program were critical to solar access.
“LRDA looks to the future and we are of course concerned about climate change,” said James Hardin, CEO of LRDA. “When we learned about the economic power of solar leasing, solar was an easy decision. We are excited to use our utility savings for other parts of our mission, and we are grateful to Eagle Solar & Light and Sunwealth for being excellent partners.”
The celebration was attended by Dr. Henry McKoy, Director of the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (OSCEP) for the U.S. Dept. of Energy and Greg Richardson, Executive Director of the NC Commission of Indian Affairs, NC Department of Administration.
“North Carolina’s state-recognized Indian Tribes have been left behind in the clean energy transformation process for too long,” Richardson said. “The LRDA has taken a strong step forward, leading the way for others. I look forward to the other creative projects that Eagle Solar & Light will identify to help our tribal communities.”
News item from Eagle Solar & Light
