
The Grand Canyon Trust recently offered $1 million for renewable energy projects to be developed on tribal lands throughout Arizona.
The fund comes from a $5 million settlement from the Salt River Project to compensate for the environmental impacts of the expansion of the Springerville Generating Station coal-fired plant in 2009, according to the Arizona Republic.
The $5 million has not been disbursed as a result of officials not having worthy projects to invest in, the Republic stated.
"It has been difficult to get projects in operation," Lori Singleton, SRP manager of program operations for solar, sustainability and telecommunications told the Republic. "We wanted to extend the reach and allow more Indian communities to participate and get some viable projects out there in operation."
The source reported Grand Canyon Trust officials wanted the green energy projects to provide compensation for the people who live on reservations and don't receive any power, but deal with air pollution from nearby coal-burning plants and the impacts of high-power transmission lines.
The fund's committee is accepting tribal applications for solar, wind, biomass and other alternative energy projects through April 29.
Arizona State University recently won a green energy award from the publication Supply & Demand Chain Executive for its ambitious sustainability initiative, pushing the entire state to utilize renewable energy sources.

