2025 IMPACT REPORT: Powering Lakota Homes, Futures, and Hope.
As we close out 2025, our hearts are full. Red Cloud Renewable exists because of a powerful circle of supporters: the folks who can give major gifts, the families who faithfully send $10 a month, and the people who quietly hit “share” on Facebook to help our stories travel farther than we ever could alone. Every one of you is part of this work. There are so many ways to support a Native-led nonprofit, and we cherish them all—time, attention, amplifying our posts, prayers, donations, showing up to volunteer. If giving money isn’t possible for you right now, please know this: you are still a valued member of our community. When you share our work, talk about us with a friend, or simply stay engaged, you help unlock life-changing opportunities for Native families and students. Together, we are building something powerful.
In 2025, our all-Native weatherization crew completed deep energy retrofits on 30 homes for low-income, enrolled Oglala Lakota tribal members on the Pine Ridge Reservation—impacting 104 people. These aren’t quick fixes or a little caulking around a window. Our crew replaces old ductwork, swaps out outdated appliances for efficient models, seals windows and openings, installs smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, adds insulation in walls and attics, and even repairs the “bellies” under mobile homes. Thanks to this work, our weatherization clients are seeing substantial reductions in their utility bills—some by more than 40%—while living in homes that are warmer, safer, and healthier for their families.
Ten additional households received new solar arrays this year, a mix of roof-mounted and ground-mounted systems, all serving families facing heavy energy burdens—spending far too much of their limited income just to keep the lights on. But every one of these installations carried double impact. Each system was installed by a cohort of Native American students training with Red Cloud Renewable to become solar installers and step into clean energy careers. In a country where Native Americans experience some of the highest unemployment rates, these hands-on projects don’t just power homes—they open doors. Every panel set, every wire run, is a step toward stable, meaningful work in a growing industry, led by Native hands on Native land.
This year, 34 Native American students graduated from our solar education programs. Our students come from many Tribal Nations, but they share a common story: a desire to support their families, care for their communities, and protect the land. When they join us, everything is free—travel, food, lodging, books, supplies, and tools—because we believe cost should never be the barrier that keeps Native people out of clean energy careers. At a time when our planet is demanding bold action, preparing Native students to design, install, and maintain renewable energy systems is a gift to both people and Earth. These graduates leave Pine Ridge with real-world experience, industry-ready skills, and the confidence to bring clean energy solutions back to their own communities.
Because of donors and supporters like you, more than 150 Native and tribal community members experienced radical change in 2025 alone—warmer, safer homes; dramatically lower energy bills; and new pathways into good, green jobs. And every bit of it, from the insulation in the walls to the tools in a student’s hands, is provided free of charge to our clients and students. If you’ve given, shared a post, told a friend about us, or simply followed along with our work, you are part of these stories. Your support is not just helpful—it is transformational.
Thank you for standing with Red Cloud Renewable. We hope you feel proud, seen, and deeply appreciated. The work ahead is big, but so is our community. We’d love for you to stay involved—or get involved for the first time—by giving if you’re able, sharing our stories, and continuing to walk with us as we bring clean, reliable energy and meaningful careers to Native communities. Together, we are lighting up homes, careers, and possibilities for years to come.
