Families on the Pine Ridge Reservation will soon have access to clean, reliable power at the community’s first district laundromat, thanks to a continued partnership between Everybody Solar and One Spirit, a nonprofit supporting the Oglala Lakota Nation.
Building on years of collaboration, the two nonprofits are installing a 18-kW rooftop solar array with battery backup at the newly opened laundromat facility. Once operational, the system will generate approximately 25,672 kWh of clean electricity annually, offsetting utility costs.
“Reliable energy is transformative for Pine Ridge,” said Myriam Scally, executive director of Everybody Solar. “This project ensures residents have not only a vital daily resource, but a community-powered space that remains open when it’s needed most, like during outages, extreme weather or cultural gatherings.”
The laundromat, which opened in January, is the first facility of its kind on the reservation, where previously families often traveled miles round trip for basic laundry access. The building is connected to a youth-centered gathering space and community garden. Local residents were trained in solar construction and are helping install the array, and will maintain it post-installation.
Through the addition of solar and storage, the laundromat will now serve as a community resilience hub, a place where residents can gather for safety during outages, and where youth programs and ceremonies can continue uninterrupted.
“One Spirit’s mission has always been about dignity, culture and self-sufficiency,” said Jeri Baker, executive director of One Spirit. “This project embodies that vision. By combining renewable energy with local leadership, we’re ensuring this essential service is sustained for years to come and that the Lakota community continues to lead with resilience and care.”
Everybody Solar and One Spirit have worked together since 2017, successfully completing several renewable energy projects on the Pine Ridge Reservation, including installations at the Allen Youth & Community Center (2017) and Lakota Buffalo House (2019), as well as battery backup systems.
News item from Everybody Solar
