Canku Ota Logo
Canku Ota
Canku Ota Logo
(Many Paths)
An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
 
 
 
pictograph divider
 
 
Cherokee Nation Installs Solar Panels On Mid County Community Organization Building
 
 
by Cherokee Phoenix staff
Workers install rooftop solar panels on the Mid County Community Organization building in Adair County. The panels were installed as part of the Cherokee Nation's Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act. COURTESY

BARON – Cherokee Nation officials celebrated Earth Week on April 22 with a visit to the Mid County Community Organization building in Adair County, where new rooftop solar panels were installed as part of Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.'s $30 million Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act passed by the Tribal Council in 2019.

The solar panels will lower utility costs and provide an eco-friendly energy source for the Cherokee community organization.

Hoskin, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Natural Resources Secretary Chad Harsha, Chief of Staff Todd Enlow and Veterans Affairs Secretary S. Joe Crittenden unveiled the solar panels after signing an Earth Day proclamation detailing many of the tribe's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

"I hope that more community organizations will do what has been done here at Mid County," said Hoskin. "This is the third solar panel project completed by a Cherokee community organization through our Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities initiative, and there will be more to come. I believe a fundamental principle of Cherokee culture is recognizing the impact of what we do today on the next seven generations of Cherokees, and taking steps like this ensures we answer that sacred responsibility."

Under the 2019 act, a portion of funding has been set aside to upgrade Cherokee community buildings with connectivity and sustainability projects such as solar power, HVAC systems and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The 20 solar panels at MCCO will offset more than two-thirds of the community building's utility costs, Harsha said.

"Celebrating this project is particularly fitting for Earth Week, where we take a look at what we do as individuals and what we do as a tribe to offset our impact on the environment for future generations. This project highlights a great example of making that commitment, making that change and investing in our tribal communities," he said. "For this particular solar panel design, we looked at the historical utility usage of the facility to determine the appropriate use of solar panels, which will offset over two-thirds of the utility usage of the current design of the building and provide substantial savings over the lifespan of the community building."

The MCCO serves residents of communities in Baron, Peavine and Westville in Adair County and is located on State Highway 59 north of Stilwell.

pictograph divider
Home PageFront PageArchivesOur AwardsAbout Us
Kid's PageColoring BookCool LinksGuest BookEmail Us
 
pictograph divider
 
  Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.  
 
Canku Ota is a copyright © 2000 - 2021 of Vicki Williams Barry and Paul Barry.
 
Canku Ota Logo   Canku Ota Logo
The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the
Copyright © 1999 - 2021 of Paul C. Barry.
All Rights Reserved.

Thank You

Valid HTML 4.01!