Six tribes in South Dakota are working together to harness one of the region’s most abundant natural resources.

Gargan: “It’s really windy here.”

That’s Daniel Gargan of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. His tribe, along with five others of the Great Sioux Nation, are partnering on the Oceti Sakowin Power Project.

Gargan: “The whole point was to get the tribes together to pool their resources to build the wind farms of a size that the power could be sold on the wholesale market.”

The project should break ground in 2020 and, when complete, will produce one gigawatt of electricity. That’s enough to power more than five hundred thousand homes.

Gargan says the wind power project will generate revenue and provide jobs for the tribes.

But they’re motivated by more than just money.

Gargan: “We really believe that we are stewards of our climate, stewards of our environment. We’re focusing always on seven generations down the road in the future, to try and take care of the babies yet unborn, and to provide the health and welfare for our tribal people.”

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media.