Strategic Energy Planning (Area 1) Consultants Reports to Citizen Potawatomi Nation Federally Recognized Indian Tribe

Abstract

Vision ElementsThe Citizen Potawatomi Nation has a vision of reducing energy usage while providing quality energy services to members and creating revenue-generating energy enterprises. Present AssetsConsulting teams, while being able to establish proposed directions and multiple options, and provide energy planning guidance, cannot provide the sustained operation of implementation. This requires leadership of the organization to accomplish goals set forth to carry out the vision. From the consulting teams' perspective, we see that Citizen Potawatomi Nation has strong leadership. Chairman John A. Barrett has proven to be a champion for the tribe, a visionary and an achiever. He and his staff have the correct attitude to embark into new directions and make decisions to save and wisely utilize energy sources. Their perception is clear on the concept of accomplishing their goals and they have the commitment of bringing the project to fruition.Fortunately, their land is abundant with groundwater resources, which is an asset. Water as an energy resource for geothermal heat pump technology can be used in several ways, such as: water improves the transfer of heat energy to vertical or horizontal boreholes; it can be pumped through the heat pump and returned to a reservoir or directed to approved disposal sites; or a closed loop system can be submerged in a body of water fed by the water source.Prior knowledge of ground source heat pump installation and operation is an asset that gives them an edge in expanding the application to tribal facilities and also the background to begin a new enterprise in ground source heat pump systems. During the current year, their knowledge base has expanded to provide other options for them to apply to both new and retrofit projects.With the campus-style arrangement containing significant numbers of the CPN buildings, it allows the integration of systems to produce greater efficiency. This is accomplished by transferring energy from one building to another. For example, the FireLake Discount Foods produces heat that can be transferred with fluids across the street to heat the headquarters buildings through convective coils. Every boiler in the complex could be replaced with lines carrying hot water from the refrigeration system in the Foods store.Sufficient land surrounds the existing buildings to build revenue-producing facilities that can be supplied with energy from the existing buildings. An example is using heat from the FireLake Discount Foods to operate a car wash, a laundry, a greenhouse or other facilities requiring heat. These could be constructed near the Foods store since space is available.