Gila River Indian Community Utility Authority Selects White Clay Industries and US Solar to Build Olas S-thoñ Solar Project

CHANDLER, Ariz. — [DATE] — The Olas S-thoñ Solar Project, the first utility-scale solar development within the Gila River Indian Community, is moving to construction. White Clay Industries, a Native-owned energy development company, and US Solar, a solar developer based in Minneapolis, were selected by the Gila River Indian Community Utility Authority (GRICUA) to build the 20-megawatt project near the Lone Butte Substation.

“This is GRICUA’s 20-megawatt solar project,” GRICUA General Manager Ken Stock said at the project’s groundbreaking and dedication ceremony. “It has been in the works for many years and is finally coming to fruition. The Olas S-thoñ Solar Project is the first of its kind in GRIC, it’s a large utility scale solar farm.”

Olas S-thoñ is owned by GRICUA, the Community-owned public power utility established in 1998. The project’s name was given by the Community: in the O’otham language, olas means round or circular, and s-thoñ means hot.

GRICUA held the project’s groundbreaking and dedication ceremony in fall 2025. Construction is expected to begin this fall, with commercial operation expected in summer 2027. White Clay Industries will share updates as the event approaches.

“The Gila River Indian Community and GRICUA carried this project from vision to ownership, and Ken Stock and his team have set a standard for what a Community-owned utility can do,” said Douglas Lee, founder and CEO of White Clay Industries. “White Clay Industries was selected by GRICUA to build, and we take that selection seriously. We are building alongside US Solar, under the Community’s TERO, for a utility the Community owns and operates itself. The ownership is the story here, and it belongs to the Community.”

“We are proud to work alongside GRICUA and White Clay Industries as we help advance the Community's vision for energy sovereignty, economic development, and lasting sustainability," said US Solar President Reed Richerson.

Construction hiring will follow the Gila River Indian Community’s Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO), with preference for Community members and other Native American workers across all open construction positions. Positions will be posted through the Community’s Tribal Employment Rights Office.

“I’m proud to be a part of such a milestone project for GRICUA and the Community,” said Chris Miller, GRICUA Director of Operations. “This project is the culmination of years of development and planning by the GRICUA team and the Community.”

Olas S-thoñ builds on the Community’s national clean-energy leadership, including the solar-over-canal project energized on the Community’s Casa Blanca Canal in 2024.

The project reflects more than a decade of the Community’s work. Discussions began in 2014. GRICUA selected Clenera through a competitive process in 2018 to develop the project, and in 2024 acquired the development from Clenera, enabling Community ownership. Through a subsequent construction solicitation, GRICUA selected White Clay Industries and US Solar to build it.

About GRICUA

The Gila River Indian Community Utility Authority (GRICUA) is the Community-owned public power utility of the Gila River Indian Community, established in 1998. GRICUA provides electric service to homes, businesses, and Community enterprises across the Community. Learn more at www.gricua.net.

About White Clay Industries

White Clay Industries (WCI) is a Native-owned energy development company based in Naytahwaush, Minnesota. Founded by an enrolled member of the White Earth Nation, WCI develops solar, battery storage, and energy infrastructure projects in partnership with Tribal Nations and their enterprises. Learn more at www.whiteclayindustries.com.

About US Solar

Founded in 2014, US Solar is a developer, owner, operator, and financier of solar generation and storage projects with a focus on emerging state markets and community solar programs. The company helps utilities, partners, communities and residents expand access to clean energy across the country and save on electric costs. With more than 350 Megawatts of completed projects and over 2 Gigawatts in development or construction, US Solar is trusted nationwide. Visit www.us-solar.com for more.

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