Saxon Metzger and Ayda Donne, founders of Eighth Generation Consulting, aim to ensure responsible solar energy deployment in the Osage Nation, a region historically impacted by fossil fuel exploitation.
The organization focuses on:
Solar decommissioning workforce training and project management.
Securing funding, including a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Collaborating with companies like Green Clean Solar to promote sustainability through reuse of solar components.
Metzger's experience includes:
Project management for solar installations in underserved regions.
Co-founding Polaris Ecosystems for solar decommissioning consulting.
In 2023, the U.S. installed nearly 33 GW of solar capacity, with decommissioning becoming a critical issue as projects age. Eighth Generation is developing a curriculum to train tribal members in decommissioning, aiming for long-term sustainability.
Metzger emphasizes the importance of planning for the future: "We’re thinking about what this is going to look like for our tribe in 100 years."