The Blue Lake Rancheria’s utility authority, “Blue Lake Rancheria Department of Energy and Technologies” (DET) was formed in 2013 by Tribal Ordinance 13-02.

The DET works to attain energy self-sufficiency and to reduce GHG emissions in light of the established contributory effect GHGs have on climate change.

DET Objectives

• Build and maintain decarbonized systems and resources
• Advance resilient infrastructure and lifeline sectors (energy, water, food, transportation, communication/IT)
• Reduce production of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• Support the Tribe’s economic and community development goals

DET Utility Services

• Electricity
• Fuels (e.g., biodiesel, electric vehicle infrastructure, natural gas, propane)
• Water and wastewater services
• Recycling
• Sanitation
• Telecommunications

Illustrative Utility Community Programs

• Deliver cost savings via rapid transition to decarbonized energy sources
• Low-carbon Electricity Microgrids
  • Community Microgrid (2017)
  • Facility “Solar+” Microgrid (2018-19)
  • Emergency Power
• Deliver cost savings with Energy Efficiency, Net Energy Metering Aggregation (NEMA), Virtual Net Metering, and similar programs.
• Workforce development
  • With partners (e.g., GRID Alternatives; the National Renewable Energy Laboratory) support trainings and field study to create local jobs and increase tribal capacity.
• Energy/water nexus
  • Smart water grid that serves the community as efficiently as possible.
  • Emergency water supplies
• Energy/transportation nexus
  • Decarbonized transportation programs including transitions to electric vehicle (EV) transit system, green fuels (e.g., biodiesel manufactured from onsite waste oil), green commuting programs
  • Emergency transportation
• Telecommunications – increasing digital connectivity and speed (e.g., broadband)
• Green community resilience

Illustrative Utility Residential Programs

• Energy Audits
• Energy Efficiency Upgrades (lighting, heating/ventilation/air conditioning, water heating, insulation, appliances, others)
• Solar PV systems for residences
• Solar + battery storage systems for residences
• Solar + storage + EV charging stations for residences
• Low-income and hardship programs
• Water system upgrades