At the Native Business Virtual Summit, Indian Energy LLC has been honored as the recipient of the Native Business of the Year Award. The program celebrated Native American-owned entrepreneurs and companies who are encouraging, innovating, and committing to economic self-sufficiency and prosperity goals.
Possibly of your interest: First Nations KXL deal would unlock wealth for indigenous groups in Canada
Indian Energy LLc: Native American business of 2020
Today, Indian Energy LLC, a 100% Native American privately held microgrid developer, and an energy solutions provider, received the inaugural Native Business of the Year Award. Native Business Magazine sponsored the event.
Gary Davis, founder, publisher, and CEO of Native Business told CISION PR Newswire: “Indian Energy is demonstrating innovation in the energy sector at an unprecedented scale by creating energy storage and microgrid solutions for Tribal Nations and Department of Defense clients, and ultimately, playing a vital role in advancing the U.S.’s energy sovereignty.”
“I am delighted — and grateful — to see Indian Energy viewed as an influential and change-making Native business within North America’s exceptional tribal community,” said Allen G. Cadreau, the Company’s CEO.
“We are honored to be recognized by Native Business, an organization whose mission includes the advancement of Native American business and economic development.”
“Through hard work and innovation, Indian Country’s talented entrepreneurs have long been advancing, delivering and achieving across all industries, and we hope this honor for our company will further promote and inspire the ongoing development and acknowledgment of the tribal community.”
The Native Business Virtual Summit presented five awards to recognize individuals and businesses in the community who had outstanding performances above the challenges and difficult circumstances of an extraordinary year.
Indian Energy was developed in response to the desire for sustainable energy independence among tribal nations in the U.S. Founded in 2009 by a group of Tribal Nations to pursue a utility-scale power plant; the company grew into an advanced renewable energy development firm.
The company’s trajectory
Since its beginning, Indian Energy’s mission is to empower native communities with the technical support needed to own and operate energy infrastructure that serves their citizens.
Now certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and a Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE); Indian Energy is rapidly expanding into developing projects and selling renewable energy to military organizations and off-reservation communities in the Southern California region.
Indian Energy was joined by several 2020 Native Business Award honorees, including Mark N. Fox, chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation (MHA Nation), and Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, jointly winning the Tribal Sovereignty Champion of the Year Award.
JC Seneca, the founder of Tallchief Hemp, Native Pride Travel Plaza and Six Nations Manufacturing, was also presented with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award; Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses, received the Tribal Enterprise of the Year Award; and Clara Lee Pratte, CEO of Strongbow Strategies, was honored with the Native Disruptor of the Year Award.
Indian Energy, LLC, currently develops large-scale advanced energy resiliency solutions for the Department of Defense, Community Choice Aggregators, and Tribal Utility Authorities. The company has offices in Anaheim Hills and San Diego in California, and in Baja California, Mexico.
The company has 4 GW of solar photovoltaic and wind and 6 GWh of energy storage under development.
Among its partners is the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. Along with Indian Energy, both organizations created Chippewa Sustainable Solutions, Inc (CSS), approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for participation in the 8(a) Business Development Program.
