This project will install roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with an estimated total capacity of 148 kilowatts - direct current (KW DC) on the blackfeet community college (bfcc) campus

The Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs awarded Blackfeet Community College $725,375 on February 1, 2026, under the Renewable Energy Research and Development program (CFDA 81.087) to install roof-mounted solar photovoltaic systems and deliver workforce development training in solar installation and maintenance.

The project will install 148 kilowatts (direct current) of roof-mounted PV capacity across three campus facilities in Browning, Montana: the Eastern Property agriculture area supporting a meat processing training facility, the roof of Yellow Bird Woman Building, and the roof of Beaver Painted Lodge. The systems are projected to generate approximately 4,049 megawatt hours of electricity over their 25-year life, offsetting approximately 20% of grid-supplied electricity to the campus and saving Blackfeet Community College approximately $601,056 in energy costs. The installation will also provide congestion relief on distribution lines serving the campus and increase grid resiliency through localized generation.

A training program integrated with the solar installations will include both classroom preparation and on-site installation experience for workforce development. All three facility locations are within one half mile of each other on the BFCC campus, with campus planning and buildings and maintenance staff approval already received.

The period of performance runs from February 1, 2026, through January 30, 2030.

The campus currently has several solar installations that offset the usage of several academic buildings, and the additional solar PV systems to be installed on three bfcc facilities under this project are expected to offset approximately 20% of the grid-supplied electricity to the campus. Additionally, a training program will be integrated into the solar PV installations that includes both classroom preparation and on-site installation experience. The roof-mounted PV system will be located on three facilities on the bfcc campus. The system will be split between three physical locations within one half mile of each other. The first on the eastern property of the campus in the agriculture area that will support a meat processing training facility. The solar system for this facility will also have no additional land disturbance impact than what the building site will already experience. The second location is on top of the yellow bird woman building, and the third location will be on the roof of beaver painted lodge, both buildings that already exist and currently do not have associated solar systems. Allocations have already received approval from bfcc campus planning and the buildings and maintenance staff. This project is estimated to produce approximately 4,049 megawatt hours (MWH) of electricity and save bfcc approximately $601,056 in energy costs over the 25-year life of the systems. Congestion relief from distribution lines to bfcc, which will lower tension on the grid, preventing future costs as bfcc continues to grow and increase demand. Resiliency will also increase with localized generation, lowering the chance of costly outages and inspiring similar resiliency projects across the reservation. The rest of the costs funds the workforce development training, which has wide-reaching impacts on the community, such as increased employability, an introduction to a growing career field, and self-efficacy through skills building. With 26 prior program graduates at bfcc, this solar program is popular and has been proven to be beneficial to trainees. While IT is difficult to place an exact number on these results, IT provides clear economic benefit.