Our Experience
Avant Understands Native American Tribes
Avant understands Native American Tribes. We recognize the unique opportunities afforded by Tribal sovereignty and the importance of community in decision-making processes. We support the emphasis on sustainability that underlies many Tribal energy decisions.

We Have Managed Complex Energy Planning Projects
We have managed complex energy planning projects for Native American Tribes, colleges and universities, and utilities. These projects have included load forecasting, energy conservation assessments, policy and regulatory analyses, and creation of alternative plans to achieve client objectives.

We Operate Daily in Midwest Energy
Avant is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and operates daily in energy markets in the Midwest and elsewhere on a daily basis, helping our clients secure an economic and reliable energy supply. As a result, we are knowledgeable and current on technology costs. energy pricing trends, and policy and regulatory actions. This experience is critical to crafting the right plan for PIIC to achieve net-zero energy.

We Have Tribal Utility Implementation Experience
We are currently working with a Native American Tribe to implement a Tribal electric utility . We have supported the Tribe with initial planning, negotiation and separation/interconnection with the incumbent utility, project financing, and policies and practices for ongoing utility operation.

We have Developed Energy Projects
We have developed many energy projects for clients including wind, solar, and bioenergy facilities.

In our development role, we have been responsible for:

•  Concept development
•  Design review
•  Permitting and regulatory review
•  Procurement
•  Construction Management
•  Commissioning and Turnover to Operations We understand the complexities of energy development projects.

We Operate Power Plants
Avant also operates power plants. We have operational responsibility for wind, bioenergy, and reciprocating engine natural gas generators. We also oversee a third-party operator for a client's combined cycle and simple cycle gas generators.

We Manage Power Agencies
We manage two municipal power agencies - one in Minnesota and one in Illinois. For the Minnesota agency, we are responsible for strategic planning, daily energy market operations, energy facility development, regulatory compliance, and finance and accounting. We provide advisory, operating, and financial services to the Illinois agency.

UMore Park: Energy Master Planning
Avant prepared a "Framework for Sustainable Energy Development" for UMore Park, which is a 4,772 acre property owned by the University of Minnesota in Dakota County. The document explored sustainable energy development, UMore Park's sustainable energy objectives, design for energy sustainability, and key energy sustainability measures.

Pueblo of Acoma: Tribal Utility Formation and Operations
Avant has worked with the Pueblo of Acoma for more than three years on implementing a Tribal electric utility. Our initial work involved studying the feasibility of a Tribal utility, and more recently we have worked with Acoma regarding building a new transmission interconnection, the acquisition of customers and infrastructure from the incumbent utility provider, and the financing of the capital cost to establish the Tribal utility. We are currently advising Acoma on utility start-up operations.

University of Connecticut: Sustainable Energy Planning and Energy Facility Development
Avant has provided energy supply management services for over twenty years to the University of Connecticut, initially consisting of project planning and program management for the campus' Central Cogeneration/Chiller plant, a 25 MW combined heat and power facility, completed in 2007 and providing electric, steam, and chilled water to the Storrs campus. Early this year, Avant Energy completed an updated energy supply plan for UConn's Storrs campus.

Early this year, Avant Energy completed an updated energy supply plan for UConn's Storrs campus with the express purpose of achieving a fifty percent level of supply utilizing renewable energy sources to meet campus energy loads.

Agua Caliente: Tribal Utility Formation
Avant completed a Tribal utility formation study for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in 2018 that led to electric utility formation in 2019. We are also advising Agua Caliente regarding energy planning and utility interconnection issues.

Fond du Lac: Tribal Utility Planning and Energy Negotiations
Avant is currently assisting the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (FOL) on multiple engagements. We are studying the feasibility of a Tribal electric utility, including preparation of financial projections, development of alternative interconnection concepts, and facilitation of discussions with the incumbent utility over reliability concerns. We are also assisting FDL with negotiations with an energy supplier that has energy infrastructure on Tribal land. We are advising FDL regarding unique ways to obtain value for the use of the Tribe's land.

Confederated Colville Tribes
Avant completed a Tribal utility formation study for Colville in 2016 that led to electric utility formation in 2017. We are currently supporting Colville's energy planning needs.

Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians
Avant completed a Tribal utility formation study for Rincon in 2019. We also provided energy planning support and evaluated future solar generation alternatives.

MMPA: Strategic Energy Planning, Utility Operations, Energy Facility Development
For more than 25 years, Avant has provided management services to the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency. We are responsible for all strategic planning, daily energy market operations, energy facility development, regulatory reporting, and financial management activities for the Agency.

In our development role, we have developed wind, bioenergy, solar, and natural gas facilities for MMPA. We have also conducted RFPs to procure wind and solar energy, energy, and capacity from various market participants and developers. We have strong relationships with many energy market counterparties in the Midwest.

Forest County: Tribal Utility Planning and Microgrid Assessment
We have performed both a Tribal utility feasibility study and a microgrid feasibility study for the Forest County Potawatomi Community.
The Tribal utility study explored organizational considerations, infrastructure and interconnection, power supply, and financial projections. The microgrid feasibility study explored a potential microgrid that would include solar and diesel. The concept included operating interconnected with the incumbent utility most of the time and explored electric storage as a potential future addition to the microgrid for additional flexibility.

Eastern Band of Cherokee
Avant completed a Tribal utility formation study in 2018 and provided support in evaluating solar generation at multiple project sites for EBCI.

Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
Avant provided strategic energy planning for 21 Arizona Tribes and conducted multiple energy education and electric planning sessions for ITCA.

Sac and Fox Tribe
Avant is currently finalizing a microgrid feasibility study for Sac and Fox as well as providing energy planning support.

Paskenta: Solar Energy Planning
Avant prepared a solar project alternatives report for the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians in 2019. This report evaluated several potential solar project concepts for Paskenta, including net metering and utility-scale solar. The report projected the capital and operating costs of each project and explored the risks and issues associated with the various alternatives.

Additional Experience
In addition to the projects listed above, Avant has also performed relevant services for the following clients:

•  San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (California) - Utility formation study, technology evaluation, energy planning .
•  Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Arizona) - Utility formation study, technology evaluation, energy planning.
•  Pueblo of Laguna (New Mexico) - Strategic energy planning.
•  Pueblo of lsleta (New Mexico) - Strategic energy planning.
•  Wichita and Affiliated Tribes(Oklahoma)- Strategic energy plan. • Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate (South Dakota) - Wind project feasibility study .
•  Muscogee Creek Nation (Oklahoma) - Utility formation study and strategic energy planning .
•  Citizen Band of Potawatomi (Oklahoma) - Utility formation study and strategic energy planning support .
•  San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority (California)- Energy planning for a consortium of five Tribes in San Diego County.
•  Pueblo of Pojoaque (New Mexico) - Currently providing strategic energy planning and evaluating solar and microgrid opportunities.