Ak Chin Indian Community

Population: 1,001
Size: 32 sq. mi.
Median household income: $32,022

The Ak-Chin Indian Community (Community) established its own electric utility, Ak-Chin Energy Services (ACES), in 1992 and began providing all electricity service to the Ak-Chin Indian Community Reservation (Reservation) in 1997.

The Ak Chin Indian Community performed a feasibility study with USDOE’s Tribal Energy Program for a biomass plant in 2004, seeking to determine whether it would be economical to utilize manure from local chicken farming and other feedstock for electricity generation. The project did not move forward, as other economic uses of the agricultural wastes proved to be more feasible.

The Community and ACES continue to consider small-scale renewable energy projects on a case-by-case basis. The Community has installed solar street-lighting for locations where there is not already electricity access to light poles.

This information was gathered using web searches and conversations with tribal representatives in 2013 and 2015. The census data was found online and represents 2010 figures.

Sources:

• Leonard Gold, Consultant, who helped Community to establish Ak Chin Energy Services utility
• U.S. DOE Tribal Energy Program website
• Presentation to U.S. DOE on utility development
• Tribal Demographic Analysis