Indian Tribe's Solar Project Could Bring Jobs To Oklahoma

Associated Press

ANADARKO, Oklahoma -- An Anadarko-based American Indian tribe is unveiling a solar energy project that tribal officials say could lead to new jobs coming to southwestern Oklahoma.

The Delaware Nation said Wednesday the construction of the 37.5-kilowatt solar array on the roof of the tribe's complex north of Anadarko will supply 30 percent of the complex's electricity. The solar array should be finished by next month.

To pay for the project, tribal president Kerry Holton says the Delaware Nation received a $250,000 federal grant and the tribe matched that amount. He says the tribe will recoup its costs within five to eight years.

Holton says the tribe has started manufacturing LED lights at a plant in Anadarko and could branch out into manufacturing parts for solar arrays in the near future.