By: Plug In America
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Published: 04.21.2025
Electric Nation is providing access to clean and affordable transportation for underserved tribal communities
This is part of a collection of case studies that focus on creative charging solutions for EV drivers in multifamily housing. For more information and the full collection, visit our Charging Solutions for EV Drivers in Multifamily Housing hub.
Challenge
Access to charging is essential for drivers of all kinds. However, affordable access to clean transportation can face additional challenges for underserved tribal communities, including power availability, investment potential, and community buy-in. What can we achieve with intentional, proactive community engagement?
Objectives and solutions
The Upper Midwest Inter-Tribal EV Charging Community Network, referred to as “Electric Nation,” is a “whole of economy approach” to provide access to clean and affordable transportation for underserved tribal communities. Electric Nation’s goals include increasing access for communities to essential services and increasing collaboration across the upper Midwest region tribal communities.
Electric Nation is a growing regional community-led EV charging initiative. It is a holistically designed project led by Native Sun Community Power Development (NSCPD) and Standing Rock (SAGE) Renewable Energy Power Authority and in partnership with the American Lung Association, Minnesota Center for Energy & Environment, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Xcel Energy, Ottertail Power, Minnesota Power, and Zef Energy.
While the project is not exclusive to multifamily housing (MFH) residential charging, it is notable for its structure and approach to curating investments in EV charging, led by community-based decision-making and community priorities. Currently, in the middle of its three-year grant cycle, Electric Nation is building its foundation. Specific project goals include:
- Install 55 direct current fast-charging units on Tribal lands and connect them to main travel routes and other Tribal communities.
- Install 60 Level 2 EV supply equipment points at community gathering spots, including grocery stores, multifamily housing, Tribal colleges, casinos, and other destinations.
- Deploy EVs in Tribal fleets, including 16 light-duty EVs, an electric shuttle, and two electric school buses.
- Implement two workforce training programs for the members of Red Lake Nation and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
- Implement 52 educational sessions for communities about EV usage and benefits.
Elements for Success
- Community leadership and decision-making ensure that investments made through Electric Nation are well-designed for and supported by the community. Too often, projects intended to benefit communities are initiated without their input and result in a mismatch between the needs and desires of the community and project output. Electric Nation offers a model for community-centered planning that focuses on the needs of the community. When implementing solutions intended to support MFH residents in their mobility needs, robust community engagement is needed to ensure the solution meets the need. The aesthetics of EV chargers emerged as a key concern for community members in feedback sessions. Electric Nation implemented this feedback by partnering with Indigenous artists to make the infrastructure inclusive and welcoming to ensure the usage of the stations.
- Distributed energy resources (DERs) were essential to support chargers and offset the cost of each station. Co-locating DERs with EV chargers enabled charger installation across varying sites by avoiding high-demand charges and expanding potential site locations.
- External funding has supported the creation and ongoing growth of this project. Cost-sharing among the project partners supports the remaining costs not covered by the federal grant.
References
- Tribal nations, utilities partner on EV access and reliability in the Upper Midwest
- Our Work | Native Sun Community Power Development – Minneapolis, MN
- The unique role some Tribal nations are taking in the EV transition – Plug In America
- Native-led EV initiative launches by distributing millions of dollars worth of vehicles to tribal communities | MPR News
- Mobility Equity Framework: How to Make Transportation Work for People – The Greenlining Institute
Recap:
Charger type: Level 2 and fast charging
Charging type: Public
Problem addressed: Access, Cost, Equipment
Solution type: Community
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