A tribal group in Northern California vies for a piece of the AI boom

Colusa Indian Energy, a power company entirely owned by the Colusa Indian Community, is set to announce a partnership with developer Strata Expanse to construct an AI infrastructure project on land belonging to the Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians in California’s Sacramento River Valley. The tribe has agreed to an initial lease of several acres, with intentions to expand to over 100 acres within the next 18 months, according to Kenneth Ahmann, chief operating officer of Colusa Indian Energy. The initial site will allow customers to test chips, cooling systems, and networking tools, with the long-term goal of supporting a large data center campus. This partnership represents a rare tribal group involvement in the AI sector, aiming to diversify the community’s economy through job creation and utility sales. Mr. Ahmann also noted the agreement includes a revenue share from the data center operations. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs has encouraged such ventures, highlighting the financial benefits, including land leases, power purchase agreements, and infrastructure development. The agency cited Colusa Indian Energy as an exemplary model for these partnerships. Denise Muyco, CEO of Ravel, a technology firm involved in the initiative, stated that the project seeks to generate more job opportunities for tribal members, including roles in data center operations and AI workload management. While data centers typically create fewer long-term jobs than traditional tech campuses, the community hopes this build-out will provide sustainable, well-paying career paths for tribal members, as emphasized by Mr. Ahmann.