17.2.32.030 Findings

The Council hereby finds and declares that:

(a) San Ildefonso Services, LLC is authorized by its Articles of Organization to engage in business ventures, acquire, manage, and operate buildings, personal property, and real property, and to take any action incidental, necessary, or convenient to affect any or all of the purposes for which it is organized.

(b) Economic development and job creation are priorities of the Pueblo.

(c) It is in the best interest of the Pueblo for SIS to apply for the TSAF Grant funds in the amount of $200,000.00 for tribal facility solar project to expand solar job opportunities in tribal communities.

(d) The Pueblo was awarded a formula grant in the amount of $144,178.00 from DOE through the Grid Deployment Office funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law whose description includes "enhancing the resilience of the electric grid to States and Indian Tribes" and these funds can be utilized for a solar project.

(e) The 2023 grant required the applicant to provide 15% matching or in-kind funds totaling $21,626.70 and these can be satisfied by use of State of New Mexico matching grant funds through IAD.

(f) The proposed plan for the TSAF Grant funding is to install a 50kW solar covered carport structure for the Tribal Administrative building parking lot employing tribal members from the Pueblo as the labor force who will be trained and hired for the project.

(g) The cost of this project is approximately $350,000 and requires funding from both TSAF Grant and from the Pueblo's Resiliency Grant.

(h) The project, could be completed within one year after being awarded the TSAF Grant Funding.

(i) The SIS Manager with the support of the SIS Member's Representatives unanimously approved a motion to proceed with the above options for Tribal Council's consideration and support of submitting an application to the TSAF at a special Member's Representatives meeting held on May 1, 2024.

(j) The Tribal Council believes it is in the best interest of the Pueblo for SIS to apply for the TSAF Grant.