WINNEBAGO, Neb. (AP) — An indigenous tribe plans to install 1,000 solar panels at a reservation in northeast Nebraska.

The Winnebago Tribe will install panels across more than a dozen sites, generating more than 300 kilowatts of solar power. The installations are projected to reduce energy bills by about $40,000 a year.

The project came after the tribe’s economic development arm, Ho-Chunk Inc., received two grants in June through the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs. The grants totaled $394,500 and Ho-Chunk matched funds to increase it to $789,000.

Ho-Chunk is also working with Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems to bring more green projects to the Winnebago Reservation.

Ho-Chunk President Lance Morgan says clean energy and self-reliance are reasons for the move to solar.

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