Forge Project

Ancram, NY

Forge Project is an Indigenous-led nonprofit committed to advancing Indigenous leadership, land stewardship, and education through the arts, culture, and advocacy. Located on the ancestral homelands of the Moh-He-Con-Nuck people, Forge is situated on a sixty-acre campus in the Mahicannituck (Hudson river) valley in New York. Forge centers Indigenous values in its programs and operations, activating its campus as a site for community, creativity, and environmental justice.

In 2024, Forge transitioned into full stewardship of its three-property campus, totaling more than 13,000 square feet across four buildings.  FCI funding will  support full energy audits of all campus facilities, as well as engineering feasibility studies for transitioning to a geothermal heating and cooling system and rooftop solar installations. Currently, Forge relies on more than 50,000 kWh of electricity and over 5,000 gallons of propane annually. By conducting this assessment, Forge aims to benchmark current energy use, identify opportunities to reduce consumption, and develop capital strategies that eliminate fossil fuel dependency—especially critical given their disproportionate impacts on Native communities. The project lays essential groundwork for building a climate-resilient, sovereign, and sustainable future for the campus.

Milestones

• Conduct full energy audits across all campus buildings and properties

• Complete feasibility studies for geothermal and rooftop solar systems

• Benchmark energy usage to inform long-term strategic and capital planning

• Reduce over 50,000 kWh of electricity and 5,000 gallons of propane annually

• Align energy systems with Indigenous values and divest from fossil fuels