Impact Spotlight
16 PV solar installations across Standing Rock
Promoting the first tribally owned and operated Wind Farm
Full time job creation in a community with a 50% unemployment rate
About
In Porcupine, South Dakota, members of the Standing Rock Nation spend an average of 19% of their monthly incomes on their utility bill, despite earning less than 60% of the area’s median income. Meanwhile, homeowners in adjacent regions throughout North and South Dakota pay an average of just 3%.
In response to these historic inequities, SAGE Development Authority (SAGE), a 100% Native-led organization with a women-led Board of Directors, is dedicated to community development, institution-building, and self-determination for the Standing Rock Nation. SAGE Authority exists to ensure energy independence, protect the environment, and promote economic growth in the region, for the Nation. SAGE acts as a Public Power Authority (PPA) that controls and operates all the energy production assets within Standing Rock.
“SAGE is one way we, at Standing Rock, are working towards a better way of life. The renewable energy we are fostering comes from systems that do not extract from our world. This is better for our kids. We will replenish, not deplete.”
HF Partnership
Standing Rock Nation is a resilient and visionary community with a deep commitment to protecting land, water, and future generations. Despite facing decades of underinvestment and ongoing environmental injustice, the community continues to lead with strength, cultural knowledge, and innovation. The energy transition is not just technical here; it’s deeply tied to healing, justice, and reclaiming power in all its forms.
In 2023, the Honnold Foundation partnered with SAGE to solarize Head Start centers across Standing Rock.
In 2025, a multi-year partnership will help SAGE expand this work while continuing towards their ultimate goal: the Anpetu Wi Wind Farm – the first tribally owned and operated Wind Farm in the United States.
In the News
