ELECTRIC NATION™
ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS
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Welcome to Electric Nation™, a Tribal-led program of Native Sun Community Power Development. Our projects benefit members of Tribal Nations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. We are currently engaging with Tribes in these five states to plan and install EV chargers, aligning with the unique needs and priorities of each community. Our project partners include the Standing Rock Renewable Energy Power Authority (SAGE), state agencies, regional electric utilities, Clean Cities Coalitions, and major research universities.
Electric Nation™ comprises two Department of Energy-funded projects as follows:
Upper Midwest Inter-Tribal EV Charging Community Network
Launched in 2021, the first project of Electric Nation™ is the Upper Midwest Inter-Tribal EV Charging Community Network, a three-year initiative focused on Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The project equips Tribal fleets with electric vehicles and builds EV charging infrastructure in underserved areas.
In this project, Electric Nation™ is working to install DC fast charging units on Reservations and their vital travel routes, as well as Level 2 EV chargers at community gathering spots, multi-family dwellings, Tribal colleges, and other destinations. We have deployed electric light-duty pickup trucks and cars, an electric shuttle, and two electric school buses. We are also developing a new workforce training program for Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Red Lake Nation members.
Expanding Regional EVSE Access with Tribal Nations based on Community Priorities (Western Great Lakes Nations)
The second project of Electric Nation™, Expanding Regional EVSE Access with Tribal Nations Based on Community Priorities, is also a three-year initiative, this time focused on the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.
This project focuses on the installation of Level 2 EV charging for Tribal Nations in these states. We are actively engaging in discussions with tribes and identifying cohorts to ensure that this project aligns with the unique needs and priorities of each community.
Access to clean transportation means access to healthcare, jobs, and family.
Upper Midwest Inter Tribal EV Charging Community Network
Launched in 2021 with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Upper Midwest Inter-Tribal EV Charging Community Network is a three-year initiative focused on Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The project equips Tribal fleets with electric vehicles and builds EV infrastructure in underserved areas.
The network also connects Tribal Nations along the Native American National and State Scenic Byway, expanding access to healthcare, education, retail, and cultural sites while reducing transportation emissions.
Our Collective Power
We believe in the collective power of partnerships. Since the beginning, we have collaborated with Tribal governments, employers, grassroots organizations, higher education institutions, and community leaders to connect climate solutions with cultural strength. We also work closely with Native-led schools, workforce boards, public agencies, and community-based nonprofits to co-develop curriculum, share knowledge, and provide technical assistance. Our goal is to ensure that other Native communities can build upon and adapt what we have learned. Collective power is collaborative.
It does not belong to one organization. It grows from trust, shared purpose, and mutual accountability. Our team lives in the communities we serve and is accountable to them. That grounding keeps our work relevant, relational, and rooted in reciprocity.
Electric Nation™ is connecting Tribal communities.
Electric Nation™ is connecting Tribal communities through the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. Charging stations are now common in many areas, but Electric Nation™ is helping ensure that these areas include Tribal Nations and the often rural and remote areas that surround them.
As EV sales continue to grow rapidly and the cost of EVs declines, this infrastructure will become increasingly important to Native lands, being connected to the new, more sustainable transportation infrastructure.
Electric Nation™
Plan Your Trip
Charging stations aren’t yet as common as gas stations. If you are planning a long-distance trip in an EV, then you never want to find yourself too far away from a charging station.
There are multiple options for finding a place to charge an EV. In addition to the charger information that comes with many EVs, there are resources like the Alternative Fueling Station Locator, ensuring it’s specific to EVs and not “All Fuels,” as it currently is.
The types of EV charging stations you can choose from are commonly known as Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 (DC Fast Charging - See EV 101 ) stations.
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Level 1 is analogous to an outlet in your home used to charge your phone—this is similar to a trickle charge for EVs, yielding approximately 3-4 miles of range per hour.
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Level 2 is faster, and depending on the kilowatt power of the station and your EV’s charging capability, it can provide anywhere from approximately 20–25 miles of range per hour to 50–80 miles of range per hour.
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Level 3 charging is closer to the experience of using a gas station, where you might get as much as 200 miles of range in about 20 minutes, depending again on the power of the station and the capability of your EV.
We recommend using PlugShare, which is the embedded map below. PlugShare’s website is PlugShare.com, and it also offers a mobile app available at PlugShare.com.
GET IN TOUCH
Minneapolis Office
4407 East Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN, 55406
Phone: 612-208-7196
Bemidji Office
PO Box 1085
401 Irvine Ave NW,
Bemidji, MN 56601
Phone: 218-209-2161
Email: info@nativesun.org
OPERATING HOURS:
Monday-Friday
9:00am-5:00pm
Closed Saturday-Sunday
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This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Vehicle Technologies Office Award Numbers DE-EE0009865 and DE-EE0010623 and prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.
