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Mesa Grande Reservation adds solar and battery systems, plans to expand housing

Author : solar bazaar | Published On : 12 Nov 2026

The Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians in San Diego County, California, has completed its first public solar-plus-storage installation across three tribal administration buildings. Facilitated by the nonprofit Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) and supported by the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation, the deployment strengthens grid resilience and marks the foundation for the reservation's first major housing expansion in over two decades.

1. Microgrid Resilience & Cost Savings

Rural grid interruptions and multi-day power outages have historically disrupted essential services on the reservation. The new solar and battery systems address both reliability and operational overhead:

  • Tribal Facilities Powered: Solar PV arrays and battery energy storage systems (BESS) now supply the Tekamuk, Hallyeyaaw, and Golden Eagle administration buildings, allowing them to operate independently during regional grid failures.

  • Energy & Financial Output: The installation generates roughly 60 MWh of clean electricity annually, saving the tribe nearly $17,000 per year on utility bills while displacing approximately 18 metric tons of carbon emissions.

  • Local Workforce Development: Four previously trained Mesa Grande tribal members were directly employed on the installation, building internal technical capacity for future clean energy maintenance and expansion—including potential solar conversion for the reservation's water pump.

2. Laying the Groundwork for Housing Expansion

Reliable, lower-cost power infrastructure directly supports the tribe’s long-term vision to reverse decades of housing shortages and bring tribal citizens back home:

  • First New Homes Since 2005: The Mesa Grande Indian Housing Authority is advancing a long-term master plan encompassing up to 1,500 new homes and community infrastructure to meet a growing member waitlist.

  • Backed by State Housing Grants: The development is bolstered by a $12.43 million award from California’s Tribal Homekey program alongside nearly $3 million from the California Strategic Growth Council’s Tribal Housing Pre-Development Fund.