A New Vision
SunBloc is a vehicle to envision a new future, a future where organizations converge to engineer, develop, and test new smart grid technologies in tribal communities.
​
Historically left behind in development and infrastructure tribes hold unique positions within the energy landscape. Their sovereignty allows them to create tribal utilities capable of writing their own rules. Not beholden to any investors or outside entities they are uniquely positioned to pioneer the next generation smart grid of tomorrow.
​
SunBloc, seeks to bring innovators throughout the energy industry, capital, and tribal leaders together to create new ways of thinking about and implementing the energy economy.
Who We Are
Matthew Wheeler - Founder
After graduating from Dartmouth College in 2017 with a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering Matthew worked with the non-profit solar installer GRID Alternatives in their North Coast office developing tribal partnerships with the local tribal communities in Mendocino, Humboldt, and Lake counties.
​
Then in Denver, with the GRID's designated tribal team. He worked with the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, Spokane Indian Reservation, and finally his home community on the Navajo Nation where he led an off-grid install for an elder.
​
Following a brief stint of commercial and sales work in Denver, Matthew returned home to work for Indian Health Services on their remote cistern home projects. There he designed, constructed, and maintained an off-grid solar solution that powered the AC water pump standardized by IHS.
​
With the standardization of the design IHS will implement the solution in hundreds of homes on the Navajo Nation that do not have power.
​
He is now working to bring together organizations to develop and implement smart grid technologies within tribal communities.
Services
SunBloc is ready to provide all aspects of solar project implementation and to include community members in the process of project development.
Design
With 8 years of designing residential, commercial, and off-grid systems SunBloc is able to provide technical expertise to any solar project.
Installation
Without installation there is no solar power. With experience constructing all levels of solar from off-grid micro systems to Utility solar arrays SunBloc can handle the challenge.
Workforce Development
5 million solar installers are needed for the future clean grid. With previous experience training installers, tribal members can be introduced to a rapidly expanding industry with unlimited potential.