Press & appearances.
Reporting, interviews, and public testimony on Tribal energy sovereignty, reliable infrastructure, and economic self-determination.
Fourteen Years Without an Outage
What Tribal Energy Sovereignty Means for the Rest of the Grid
At the OATI Energy Conference at Wynn Las Vegas, Ken Ahmann shared lessons from Colusa’s microgrid reliability and Tribal ownership of energy infrastructure. He also participated in the Tribal Leadership Roundtable on October 8, exploring energy sovereignty in practice.
Read the conference recap
California Clean Energy Hall of Fame
Named a 2026 Clean Energy Champion in recognition of leadership advancing Tribal energy sovereignty, utility reliability, and community-owned infrastructure.
Upcoming appearances
Selected coverage & appearances
Big Tech Is Now Targeting Native American Land for Massive Data Centers
Reporting on Tribal Nations, data-center development, and CIE’s role as a negotiating partner.
Tribal Energy
A televised discussion with Cheri Smith and Ken Ahmann about the energy challenges and opportunities facing Tribal Nations.
A Tribal Group in California Vies for a Piece of the AI Boom
Coverage of Colusa’s energy platform, Tribal economic development, and the emerging AI infrastructure opportunity.
Coverage & interviews · Newest first
Colusa Indian Community Gains Authority Over Trust Land Leasing
Ken Ahmann discusses how HEARTH Act approval returns control of project timelines to the Tribe and accelerates energy and infrastructure development on Colusa Rancheria lands.
Native-owned energy companies offer options for data center development
Coverage of Colusa Indian Energy and Tribal participation in the infrastructure economy.
Tribe-Owned Developer Sees Economic Opportunities in Siting Microgrid-Powered Energy Park for Data Centers
Industry coverage of CIE’s plan to leverage its off-grid microgrid experience for a Tribal data-center research facility and energy park.
Standalone Energy Project Eyed for Quincy
Reporting on the proposed Quincy energy project, its economic-development potential, generation strategy, and path toward lower-carbon infrastructure.
Feds Are Encouraging Tribes to Partner With Data Centers
Ken Ahmann discusses how Tribal data-center partnerships can create transformative economic opportunity while preserving sovereignty and meeting rigorous environmental standards.
Colusa Indian Energy participates in Port of Quincy town hall
Community engagement around regional energy reliability and responsible infrastructure growth.
Q&A with CIE’s COO, Ken Ahmann
A conversation about Tribal energy, technology choices, and the future of energy sovereignty.
Indigenous Captains of Industry: Colusa Indian Energy Part Two
A profile of Ken Ahmann’s two decades at Colusa, CIE’s Tribe-to-Tribe model, and his vision for Tribal utilities as essential public-power partners.
Electrifying Indian Country on Its Own Terms
The Colusa microgrid story and the long work of building Tribal utility independence.
Tribal Energy Enterprise Partners With Native Investment Firm to Develop Utility-Scale Projects
A profile of CIE’s expansion into utility-scale infrastructure and its approach to capital, Tribal control, and long-term economic development.
Government profiles & public appearances
Development in and Around Indian Country
Ken Ahmann is a featured panelist in the official program for the Wyoming State Bar’s 2026 Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference in Casper, Wyoming, exploring development in and around Indian Country.
Redefining Tribal Power: Clean Energy Pathways for a New Era
The official conference program lists Ken Ahmann as a panelist on Tribal microgrids, clean energy funding, and energy sovereignty at the 19th Annual Native American Economic Development Conference in Temecula, California.
Microgrids and Distribution Infrastructure Webinar
Ken Ahmann presents Colusa’s microgrid expansion, the Reese Road Housing Power Project, and the Packer Ranch solar project, followed by audience questions. The official recording and transcript are available from DOE’s Office of Indian Energy.
Tribal Natural Resource Development: Barriers and Successes
Ken Ahmann testified before the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs about Colusa’s energy infrastructure, Tribal energy sovereignty, and federal barriers to development.
Read written testimony (PDF) ↗Tribal Data Centers, On-Site Power, and Selecting a Vetted Partner
Ken Ahmann is listed alongside Ryan Brooks for a discussion of data-center development, on-site power, microgrid integration, and partnerships that create long-term economic opportunities for Tribal Nations.
Microgrid Project: Sycuan’s Journey for Energy Sovereignty
The official agenda lists Ken Ahmann with Chairman Cody Martinez and Doug Kolker discussing Sycuan’s cogeneration plant, utility infrastructure, and path toward energy sovereignty.
Beyond Land Leases: Harnessing Data Centers for Tribal Economic Development
Ken Ahmann presents CIE’s path from a reservation microgrid to nationwide development and explains how Tribes can capture more value from digital infrastructure.
Testimony on Tribal energy sovereignty
CIE’s announcement of Ken Ahmann’s testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
Tribal Energy Snapshot: Colusa Indian Community Council
DOE’s project profile and interview on expanding the Tribe’s microgrid to serve additional homes.
Public engagement gallery
Interview and appearance requests.
Contact Caitlin Aylward, Executive Assistant, for media inquiries, speaking requests, and professional correspondence.
Email Caitlin Aylward ↗caylward@colusaindianenergy.com