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“Out here, outages can last days at a time.”
Photo Credit: LinkedIn
In San Diego County, a new solar-and-battery installation on the Mesa Grande Reservation lets three tribal buildings stay open during blackouts.
On a rural reservation where outages can last for days, the project also helps keep core services running when the power goes out.
According to Solar Power World, the reservation’s first public clean-energy project is complete. The Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians and the Solar Electric Light Fund installed solar-plus-storage systems at the Tekamuk, Hallyeyaaw, and Golden Eagle administration buildings.
Annual production is projected at about 60 megawatt-hours, which the tribe expects will lower electricity costs by at least $16,780 each year. The systems were built around the buildings’ existing demand and include room for future growth.
With battery storage, the three administration buildings can keep operating during the frequent outages that affect the local grid.
Adding battery storage is one of the best ways to keep a home powered during an outage. It can also help lower energy costs and give homeowners more independence from the grid.
Homeowners who want to compare home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates, can explore EnergySage. EnergySage has teamed up with electrification brand Qmerit to help homeowners get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
Mesa Grande says the three buildings support Tribal government work, housing assistance, educational and cultural programs, and food and emergency-response help for residents.
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Although electric service reached the reservation in the 1950s, some households still aren’t connected to the grid and instead rely on small generators.
The installation continues a clean-energy effort the tribe has built for more than two decades, including home solar projects, renewable-power planning, and solar-related workforce training.
The project also fits into the tribe’s effort to strengthen energy sovereignty in a place where dependable power affects essential day-to-day services.
For the three facilities, Mesa Grande and the nonprofit paired battery backup with solar systems sized for current electricity use, while also allowing for continued operation when grid power fails.
The build also brought four Tribal members with earlier solar-installation training onto the project team.
Pila is another company offering strong battery backup options. Its plug-and-play batteries cost a fraction of a whole-home backup system.
Curtis La Chusa, chairman of the Mesa Grande Tribal Council, said, “Out here, outages can last days at a time. This naturally disrupts the services we can provide to our people.”
Here are a few more stories about how solar and battery systems are helping tribes and homeowners keep the power on when the grid goes down.
• In Arizona, the Hopi Tribe saw plans to access electricity jeopardized by a funding cut.
• In California, one homeowner found that solar kept his lights on after a neighborhood blackout.
• In Colorado, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe plans a major solar farm for long-term revenue.
• After a hurricane, one homeowner said solar panels kept lights on when neighbors lost power.
• In Florida, Babcock Ranch didn’t lose power during a Category 4 hurricane.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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