Menominee Nation elders are getting solar and battery systems

Summary

Climate Connections – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Menominee Nation elders are getting solar and battery systems
Date: July 28, 2026
Host: Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz (Yale University)
Guest: Darrell Piase, Tribal Utility Director, Menominee Nation

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Episode Overview

This episode spotlights the Menominee Nation’s initiative to install solar panels and battery backup systems at the homes of tribal elders in Wisconsin. The project is a direct response to frequent, prolonged power outages caused by severe storms—a situation exacerbated by climate change. The discussion emphasizes how clean energy solutions can build resilience, reduce elders' utility costs, and ensure the safety and wellbeing of some of the tribe’s most vulnerable members.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

• Motivation for the Project

  • Frequent storms often lead to significant power outages on the Menominee reservation, sometimes lasting days or even weeks ([00:14]–[00:27]).
  • Elders are particularly vulnerable in these situations, especially those relying on medical equipment that requires constant electricity (e.g., dialysis machines, oxygen concentrators).

• How the Solar Program Works

  • The Menominee Nation, in partnership with solar companies and nonprofit funders, has installed solar and battery systems in about a dozen elders’ homes ([00:27]).
  • During grid failures, these systems ensure uninterrupted power for critical needs.
  • At other times, excess solar energy is sent back to the grid, lowering residents’ utility bills ([00:27]–[01:01]).

• Economic and Social Benefits

  • Most elders are on fixed incomes; lowering electricity costs means they have more money available for essentials like food and fuel ([01:01]–[01:13]).
  • This approach helps safeguard elders’ health and independence while fostering a sense of care and community responsibility.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the Impact of Storms:

  “With any major storms, we continuously lose power and sometimes it'll be for days, sometimes it'll be for weeks. So we wanted to make sure that our elders were taken care of.”
  — Darrell Piase, Tribal Utility Director ([00:14])

• On the Priorities of the Program:

  “Most of our elders are on fixed incomes, and any way that we can help them save that money so they can put it towards groceries or put it towards gas, that was our priority.”
  — Darrell Piase ([01:01])

• On the Overarching Purpose:

  “So the tribe is using clean energy to help some of its most vulnerable members save money and stay safe.”
  — Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz ([01:13])

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Introduction of the Solar Elders Program: [00:01]–[00:14]
• Explanation of Storm-Related Power Outages: [00:14]–[00:27]
• Description of How the Solar and Battery Systems Work: [00:27]–[01:01]
• Financial Benefits for Elders: [01:01]–[01:13]
• Closing Summary: [01:13]

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Summary Takeaway

The episode offers an inspiring example of how a tribal community is using clean energy not just to reduce emissions, but to address urgent social and health needs brought on by climate change. The Menominee Nation’s solar and battery initiative demonstrates how climate action, resilience, and social equity can be pursued together, improving lives and fostering hope.

Transcript

[A]

I'm Dr. Anthony Lyzewitz and this is Climate Connections. In Wisconsin, the Menominee Nation is installing solar panels and battery systems at the homes of tribal elders

[B]

here on the reservation. With any major storms, we continuously lose power and sometimes it'll be for days, sometimes it'll be for weeks. So we wanted to make sure that our elders were taken care of.

[A]

That's tribal utility director Darrell Piase. The tribe is partnering with solar companies and nonprofit funders on the elder solar program. So far, he says, they've installed solar and battery systems at the homes of about a dozen elders who need electricity to run medical equipment like dialysis machines or oxygen concentrators. When the grid is down, the solar panels and batteries directly power their homes so people can get through an outage without disruption. The rest of the time, energy from the solar panels flows back to the grid, reducing residents utility costs.

[B]

Most of our elders are on fixed incomes, and any way that we can help them save that money so they can put it towards groceries or put it towards gas, that was our priority.

[A]

So the tribe is using clean energy to help some of its most vulnerable members save money and stay safe. Climate Connections is produced by the Yale center for Environmental Communication. To learn more about climate change, visit climateconnections.org.