The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and the SAGE Development Authority (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) are among the recipients of recently announced funding from the Department of the Interior to electrify homes.
The Department of the Interior on Sept. 26 announced a $71 million to electrify homes in 13 Tribal communities across Indian Country.
This second and final round of funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Tribal Electrification Program, is part of an overall $150 million commitment to provide financial and technical assistance to connect homes in Tribal communities to transmission and distribution that is powered by clean energy; provide electricity to unelectrified homes through zero-emissions energy systems; transition electrified homes to zero-emissions energy systems; and support associated home repairs and retrofitting necessary to install the zero-emissions energy systems.
In addition, the program supports clean energy workforce development opportunities in Indian Country.
NTUA will receive $7,376,200, while SAGE Development Authority will receive $2,000,000.
NTUA plans to utilize the funding for furthering electrification efforts throughout the Navajo Nation.
In the past few years, the costs for power line supplies have significantly increased, including equipment and materials. According to NTUA, funding to help expand infrastructure will make a dramatic difference.
"NTUA is deeply appreciative. For decades, our primary challenge has been to extend basic electric services to thousands of Navajo families living without," said NTUA General Manager Walter Haase. "We will apply this funding to extend electricity to as many homes as possible, improving the standard of life for waiting families."
NTUA on July 29 announced another successful Light Up Navajo mutual aid initiative. NTUA in partnership with APPA on April 7 officially launched Light Up Navajo V, a project to extend electric service to Navajo Nation households. The project concluded 13 weeks later on July 19.
SAGE is a federally chartered Section 17 Corporation approved by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. “SAGE aims to fundamentally change the Tribe’s relationship from an exploitative energy economy dependent on fossil fuels to one that is sovereign and harmonious with Unci Maka (Grandmother Earth),” said Joseph McNeil, CEO, SAGE Development Authority.
The Standing Rock Renewable Energy Power Authority submitted an application for this funding on behalf of the Standing Rock Nation to complete community solar projects to serve households across the Standing Rock Nation’s districts.
SAGE identified households that would be served by the proposed project based on the strong community need for affordable clean energy for low-income residents.
“SAGE’s direct involvement in executing district solar serving households on Tribal lands will enable the Tribe to take control of their energy future and work to reduce the high energy burden Tribal members face on the Standing Rock Nation,” McNeil said.
SAGE will enter a planning phase to determine how to develop a community solar project to bring clean, affordable energy, owned and operated by the Tribe, to Tribal households so Tribal members can reap the economic and energy benefits of this funding, he noted.
“The historic investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda have created a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver clean energy to Indian Country, electrify more homes, and support energy sovereignty. Our commitment to energy independence, environmental protection, and economic growth remains unwavering. We are excited about the future and look forward to putting these federal dollars to good use,” he said.
The Sept. 26 announcement follows the program’s first round of funding of $72 million awarded to 21 Tribes and Tribal organizations, which Secretary Haaland announced in March during a visit to the Hopi Tribe in Arizona. By recognizing that each Tribe has its own energy- and electrification-related needs and implementation capacity, the Tribal Electrification Program is meeting the unique needs of individual communities.
