Siletz news /, June 01, 2012, Page 15, Image 15

Tribe installs solar-powered street lights in recently paved area in Siletz
Planning Department
leads efforts to conserve
energy, future costs
By Diane Rodriquez
A portion of Molalla Street on the
west side of Siletz now boasts 10 solar-
powered street lights, thanks to the efforts
of the Siletz Tribal Planning Department.
The lights are part of planned Tribal
development that has taken place near
the Tillicum Fitness Center, Tribal gym­
nasium, Tenas Illahee Childcare Center,
community garden and the Transitional
Living Center (TLC). This portion of
Molalla Street recently was paved and
the job included a paved parking lot at the
TLC (which has the 11th solar-powered
light) and another just north of the child
care center.
The portion of Molalla Street with the
solar-powered lights runs between Buford
and James Frank avenues. The project was
funded through a Bureau of Indian Affairs
Indian Reservation Roads grant.
“One of the interesting things we
were able to do within the budget that we
had available for that project, because of
competitive bidding, we’ve been able to
install solar street lighting. That’s been a
real step forward in the community,” said
Pam Barlow-Lind, Tribal planner, during
a radio interview on KCUP on May 16.
“We have 11 solar-powered street lights
along Molalla. They’re LED lights too,
which are very energy efficient.”
installed them. The lights carry a warranty
of 25 years.
In addition to the immediate effect of
saving energy, these lights have a long­
term money-saving benefit.
“By being solar powered, there’s no
ongoing operating costs. We don’t have to
pay a power bill for them every month,”
said Barlow-Lind. “It’s kind of a test case
for us to see how well they’re working, are
they effective and do we want to continue
that program in other parts of our trans­
portation improvements.”
Each LED light is powered by two
150-watt solar panels.
“The power doesn’t directly power
the lights from the sunlight. What it does
is, the panels charge a battery and then
they (the lights) run from that all night
long,” said Barlow-Lind. “In fact, it
charges them adequately enough that they
can run up to four or five days without
sunlight if we didn't get any sun or if we
got minimal sun.”
Photo by Natasha Kavanaugh
Ten solar-powered lights line part of Molalla Street in Siletz and one light (right)
sits in the parking lot of the Transitional Living Center.
Election Board Application
Tribal members interested in serving on the Election Board must fill out the
following form and return it to the address below. Applications for consideration
will be accepted through June 29, 2012.
All applications should be mailed to Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians,
Attn: Executive Secretary to Tribal Council, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549;
or faxed to 541-444-8325.
LEDs currently are the most energy­
efficient lights, using an average of 10
percent to 20 percent of the energy needed
by incandescent bulbs. By comparison,
compact fluorescent lights use an average
of 25 percent of the energy of incandes­
cent bulbs.
Name:ROH No:
Address:_________________
City:State: ZIP:
Telephone: Day (
Greenshine New Energy Company
in Los Angeles manufactured the lights
and Northstar Electric in Tualatin, Ore.,
Evening (
। Enrollment Committee Application?
Any Tribal member interested in serving on the Enrollment Committee must
| fill out this form and return it prior to 4:30 p.m. on July 18, 2012.
I
Please mail or fax your application to Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians,
Attn: Executive Secretary to Tribal Council. P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549- I
। fax:541-444-8325.
| Name:Roll No.: ।
Address:■
| City:State:ZIP: I
| Telephone: Day ( )Evening ( )
I
Tribal Council will review applications and approve appointments at the |
. Regular Tribal Council meeting in July 2012.
D owney ’ s
Courtesy photo
Chewescla DePoe stands for a photo and participates in the competition dancing
at the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow in Albuquerque, N.M., in April.
June 2012
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Siletz News
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