Solar Trailers for Standing Rock
Donation protected
Please help us build solar trailers to support the Standing Rock Camp in North Dakota. There are thousands of people at Standing Rock from over 300 tribes including indigenous people from all over the world and they are readying for winter camp.
The cost of each unit is roughly $2,500 which is 4 to 5x less than what they would be on the market. Currently we have enough donated solar panels to build five trailers and we’re going to start with two. We plan to deliver them the first week of December as time is of the essence.
The units are self-contained, weatherproof, easily moveable with normal cars, light enough to keep from sinking as mud and frost cycles begin, will serve as charging stations for the invaluable tools of communication for the people, and are our next step in functional power distribution representing change in how we relate to energy. They are designed for the most common needs of electricity in the camps (cell phones, laptops, lighting, small heaters). Having multiple small trailers will get the electricity to as many people as possible while minimizing potential confiscation or damage issues that could arise. In terms of output, one unit roughly creates the same amount of power that an RV or small tour bus would provide.
We spoke with David Archambault Sr, father of the Standing Rock Sioux Chairman, who confirmed that these solar units will be very helpful to their cause at camp and ensured a smooth reception of our donation. We know these will continue to be helpful on the frontlines of other struggles into the future as this is the beginning of addressing the pressing issues of our day.
Join us! This is an initiative of concerned Denver friends who want to support our native brothers and sisters today! Our names are Robert Ford, Nancy Olsen, Basha Cohen, Paul Tamburello, Jen Wolf, Serene LaBarge, Irene Glazer and Adriane Anile.
We will continue to build units if we continue to raise money. Rob is a long standing professional in the solar industry and has designed the units as well as secured materials either at highly competitive prices, at cost, or through donation and can continue to sustain acquisition at these rates. We’ve included gas money for our journey.
We will have build days Nov 19th & 20th at 4415 West Colfax in Denver and are preparing an education and awareness event for Nov 19th from 1-4pm. Join us!
We are thrilled to be able to contribute to this important infrastructure for the people at Standing Rock and beyond.
Please share this campaign. No donation is too small – together we can do so much. Together we can create the change we long to see in the world and know is possible! Join us.
In gratitude & solidarity,
Nancy Olsen & Robert Ford
Denver, CO
(photo by warrior sister Angela Sumner)
Background and further detail:
The events at Standing Rock represent the largest gathering of Native Americans in recent history. They've come together, along with many allies, in unity to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline in order to protect not only their community's drinking water, but the drinking water of millions downstream, and to protect their sacred land as noted in the Ft. Laramie treaty of 1851.
This current struggle highlights many of the pressing issues of our day that need to be addressed, not only at Standing Rock, but throughout our country:
- Racial Justice
- Indigenous Sovereignty
- Human Rights
- Eminent Domain abuse
- Stewardship of our environment
- Transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy
- Excessive corporate influence on local law enforcement
- Militarized police
- Absence of mainstream media
A few facts about DAPL at Standing Rock:
- This pipeline was rerouted to Native territory when the people of Bismarck rejected it because it would endanger their drinking water. Bismarck is 92% white folks.
- Despite not having a legal permit from the Corps of Engineers to drill under the Missouri river, DAPL has constructed a drill pad ½ mile from the river and stated they will begin drilling in 2 weeks.
- A day after sacred burial sites were identified by the Sioux in court as archeologically sensitive areas to be protected, DAPL contractors demolished the exact locations specified. When people arrived to further protect these sites security officers with dogs threatened and attacked them.
- Currently the Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing the effects of the pipeline while they determine future alternative routes. President Obama said “We’re going to let this play out for a while” as they determine whether to reroute it or not.
- There have been 25 pipeline spills in 2016 alone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pipeline_accidents_in_the_United_States_in_the_21st_century#2016
Budget and outline for trailer:
Solar panels SolarWorld SW280 Donated
Charge Controller Midnite KID $300
Inverter 12v Mod Sine 5k/10k $400
Batteries 2x 106RE $336
Trailer w/ spare $480
Hardware $490
Battery straps
Battery cables
Battery disconnect
Inverter Controller
String breaker
Weather boxes, strip
Power strip HD
Weather box, primary
Strain relief
PV wire
PV wire connectors
PV wire tool
KID fuses
Hardware / Mounting
Shipping / Variables $165
Title and Registration ~ $75 est
Total budget per trailer for up to 5 trailers $2246
Cost per trailer beyond 5 (due to panel purchase unless more are donated) $2646
The cost of each unit is roughly $2,500 which is 4 to 5x less than what they would be on the market. Currently we have enough donated solar panels to build five trailers and we’re going to start with two. We plan to deliver them the first week of December as time is of the essence.
The units are self-contained, weatherproof, easily moveable with normal cars, light enough to keep from sinking as mud and frost cycles begin, will serve as charging stations for the invaluable tools of communication for the people, and are our next step in functional power distribution representing change in how we relate to energy. They are designed for the most common needs of electricity in the camps (cell phones, laptops, lighting, small heaters). Having multiple small trailers will get the electricity to as many people as possible while minimizing potential confiscation or damage issues that could arise. In terms of output, one unit roughly creates the same amount of power that an RV or small tour bus would provide.
We spoke with David Archambault Sr, father of the Standing Rock Sioux Chairman, who confirmed that these solar units will be very helpful to their cause at camp and ensured a smooth reception of our donation. We know these will continue to be helpful on the frontlines of other struggles into the future as this is the beginning of addressing the pressing issues of our day.
Join us! This is an initiative of concerned Denver friends who want to support our native brothers and sisters today! Our names are Robert Ford, Nancy Olsen, Basha Cohen, Paul Tamburello, Jen Wolf, Serene LaBarge, Irene Glazer and Adriane Anile.
We will continue to build units if we continue to raise money. Rob is a long standing professional in the solar industry and has designed the units as well as secured materials either at highly competitive prices, at cost, or through donation and can continue to sustain acquisition at these rates. We’ve included gas money for our journey.
We will have build days Nov 19th & 20th at 4415 West Colfax in Denver and are preparing an education and awareness event for Nov 19th from 1-4pm. Join us!
We are thrilled to be able to contribute to this important infrastructure for the people at Standing Rock and beyond.
Please share this campaign. No donation is too small – together we can do so much. Together we can create the change we long to see in the world and know is possible! Join us.
In gratitude & solidarity,
Nancy Olsen & Robert Ford
Denver, CO
(photo by warrior sister Angela Sumner)
Background and further detail:
The events at Standing Rock represent the largest gathering of Native Americans in recent history. They've come together, along with many allies, in unity to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline in order to protect not only their community's drinking water, but the drinking water of millions downstream, and to protect their sacred land as noted in the Ft. Laramie treaty of 1851.
This current struggle highlights many of the pressing issues of our day that need to be addressed, not only at Standing Rock, but throughout our country:
- Racial Justice
- Indigenous Sovereignty
- Human Rights
- Eminent Domain abuse
- Stewardship of our environment
- Transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy
- Excessive corporate influence on local law enforcement
- Militarized police
- Absence of mainstream media
A few facts about DAPL at Standing Rock:
- This pipeline was rerouted to Native territory when the people of Bismarck rejected it because it would endanger their drinking water. Bismarck is 92% white folks.
- Despite not having a legal permit from the Corps of Engineers to drill under the Missouri river, DAPL has constructed a drill pad ½ mile from the river and stated they will begin drilling in 2 weeks.
- A day after sacred burial sites were identified by the Sioux in court as archeologically sensitive areas to be protected, DAPL contractors demolished the exact locations specified. When people arrived to further protect these sites security officers with dogs threatened and attacked them.
- Currently the Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing the effects of the pipeline while they determine future alternative routes. President Obama said “We’re going to let this play out for a while” as they determine whether to reroute it or not.
- There have been 25 pipeline spills in 2016 alone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pipeline_accidents_in_the_United_States_in_the_21st_century#2016
Budget and outline for trailer:
Solar panels SolarWorld SW280 Donated
Charge Controller Midnite KID $300
Inverter 12v Mod Sine 5k/10k $400
Batteries 2x 106RE $336
Trailer w/ spare $480
Hardware $490
Battery straps
Battery cables
Battery disconnect
Inverter Controller
String breaker
Weather boxes, strip
Power strip HD
Weather box, primary
Strain relief
PV wire
PV wire connectors
PV wire tool
KID fuses
Hardware / Mounting
Shipping / Variables $165
Title and Registration ~ $75 est
Total budget per trailer for up to 5 trailers $2246
Cost per trailer beyond 5 (due to panel purchase unless more are donated) $2646
Organizer and beneficiary
Nancy Olsen
Organizer
Denver, CO
Robert Ford
Beneficiary