Emilie Richardson and Andrew Hay

TAOS N.M. PINE RIDGE S.D. (Reuters] – Although it is a big leap from office work to installing solar power systems, Lorraine Nez believes that this is the right step to help her Native American reservations get renewable energy.

Nez was among a dozen Native participants who completed a one-month course on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation this summer to become solar trainers and installers.

Students from six tribal tribes have joined Native Americans in tapping into huge renewable energy potential on tribal land and fighting economic inequality that hinders access to clean power.

Nez (44), a former nurse who has a business management degree and is originally from South Dakota’s Rosebud Sioux Reservation. She lives in Rapid City where she is a medical billing specialist.

Native Americans are 10 times more likely not to have electricity than the national median. Furthermore, people of color tend to lack solar power and have been shown to suffer from it after electrification of rural areas in the 20th Century.

Solar Energy International, a training organization for tribal energy independence has teamed up with Red Cloud Renewable. They will teach students how to set up off-grid systems that can be used to power isolated houses or connected to grids in an effort to lower bills.

The “solar warriors,” who are based in the Navajo Nation and hope to bring power to the area where approximately 25% of households lack electricity. They also plan to reduce energy costs in reservations like Pine Ridge which is the least populated county in America.

Clyde Brown (45), a trainee, stated that he wants to raise community awareness and show how renewable energy can be integrated with the Chippewa Cree belief system. He also plans to use solar power to build solar panels at his Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Montana.

The creation of a Native American Solar workforce is another goal. They will be able to install large solar arrays at places like Pine Ridge or the Navajo Nation, as well as teach skills to future generations.

“The people there have realized that energy sovereignty is more important to them and the only way they’ll achieve that is focusing on the more renewable resources,” said workshop instructor Chris Brooks, 48, from non-profit Remote Energy of moves by reservations to diversify away from oil and gas and coal-based power.

Nez plans to open a business for installation in the sector that is dominated by white men. His life philosophy is based on the elements and earth.

It’s available, so why don’t we use it? “It’s there, why aren’t we using it?” she asked about solar power.