NTUA Bringing Progress with Solar Development
The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority has moved into the world of renewable energy development, which has placed the Navajo Nation as a leader in Indian Country with respect to renewable energy generation. This is a huge step forward - it’s the first time in Navajo history that the Navajo people are owners through NTUA of an energy generation facility operating on our homeland.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FIRST LARGE SCALE
UTILITY SOLAR FACILITY
In 2016 - 2019, NTUA built the first two large utility scale solar generating farms on the Navajo Nation known as Kayenta Solar I & II. Combined these two plants produce over 55 megawatts of emission free energy which generate enough electricity to serve approximately 36,000 Navajo homes. All the electricity produced by this facility stays on the Navajo Nation for the benefit of the Navajo people and provides electricity throughout the Nation.
The Kayenta I & II Solar facility is a renewable energy development showcase. The approximately 365 acre solar facility demonstrates that such development is viable within the Navajo Nation and further moves economic development related to renewable energy forward for the Navajo Nation.
RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ON
NAVAJO HAS A PURPOSE
The Navajo Nation was NEVER the owner and operator of the coal-fired power generation plants on the Navajo Nation: the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) and the Four Corners Power Plant (FCPP). As such, the Navajo Nation’s benefits were limited to lease payments, coal royalties and possible job opportunities. All the profits generated for the owners of and power generated by NGS or 4 Corners was used to power and build up communities and cities off the Navajo Nation.
None of the power generated was provided to the Navajo Nation to power our economy, homes or businesses. The owners of the Navajo Generating Station made the decision to shut down, the lease payments, coal royalties and more importantly the jobs will disappear. Now is the time for the Navajo Nation and its enterprises to take the lead and establish solutions that will provide long-term benefits for the Navajo Nation and its people. Now is the time for the Navajo people to become the owners and long-term decision makers of power generation, especially within their traditional homeland.
Kayenta
Solar I
&
Kayenta
Solar II
Red Mesa
Tapaha Solar
Project to begin construction Summer of
2021
Why Navajo
Ownership is
Important
How does the Navajo Nation benefit?
Owning generation facilities will continue to empower the NTUA to optimize revenue, maximize control, balance risks and ultimately protect the interests of the Navajo People as envisioned by all Navajo leaders. The revenues generated from such NTUA-owned generation projects will be reinvested back into the Navajo Nation through expansion of infrastructure and subsidizing the cost of utilities for Navajo families.
How do Communities benefit?
NTUA established a renewable energy platform to help local Navajo communities prosper.
1. Creating a new energy workforce to increase job opportunities
• Providing specialized solar training for the Navajo people
2. Create expenditure of dollars in the local community, e.g., hotels, food,
arts and crafts vendors, and local services
3. New Tax dollars to Navajo Nation
4. Infrastructure development
• Increase electric distribution lines
• Increase water distribution lines
• Increase communication assets
• Solar Generation for Navajo use
5. Overall - all tribal communities benefit from low electric rates. In over
12 years, NTUA has not had an electric rate increase. Solar facility
development projects help provide additional operational revenue which
helps keep the Electric rates low NTUA's Electric rates are some of the
lowest in the four corners region.
How is Kayenta Solar Project successful?
NTUA has:
1. Increased utility infrastructure development;
2. Brought new tax dollars to the Navajo Nation;
3. Created significant economic activity to the local chapter and Navajo
Nation during construction;
4. Created significant short-term jobs over two years that were filled
predominantly by Navajo people, over 85%.
5. Provided specialized solar facility construction training for the Navajo
workforce; and
6. Secured ownership for the Navajo people in large scale renewable
generation assets.
The project also further alleviates the Navajo Nation’s reliance on dirty fossil fuels by diversifying the energy portfolio and promoting additional sustainable energy generation
How many jobs were created by Kayenta Solar?
• During height of construction, 284 people worked on Kayenta I. Of that
number, 85 percent were Navajo. Navajo people were paid a total of
$5.2 M as result of the construction of this project.
• During the height of construction for Kayenta II, 150 people were
employed with 90% being Navajo and 101 of the people had worked on
Kayenta I. The Navajo people were paid a total of $4 M as result of the
construction of the Kayenta II project.
• During the Job Fair for Kayenta I - more than 550 people submitted an
application.
• With Kayenta II, 589 applications were submitted.
• While these were temporary jobs over a six to eight month period, the
workers received thousands of hours of specialized training in solar facility
construction.
NTUA Renewable Energy Development follows Navajo Háyoołkááł Proclamation
On April 2, 2019 President Jonathan Nez and Vice-President Myron Lizer signed the Navajo Háyoołkááł (Sunrise) Proclamation (“Proclamation”). The Proclamation states that the Navajo Nation will pursue and prioritize clean renewable energy development for the long-term benefit of the Navajo People. The Proclamation is based on four principals:
1. Cultivating a diverse energy portfolio;
2. Restoring the land and water;
3. Rural Electrification of homes; and
4. Development of utility-scale renewable energy projects.
The Proclamation aligns with the Navajo Nation Energy Policy of 2013 (“Policy”). The Policy acknowledges that energy forms a cornerstone of the Navajo economy by providing jobs, electrifying homes and generating revenue. The Policy has a preference for Navajo majority-owned entities and promotes majority ownership of projects by Navajo Enterprises. It also speaks to a balanced energy portfolio, environmental stewardship, electrification of homes and supporting community scale electricity generation for use on the Navajo Nation.
The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (“NTUA”) is strategically positioned to meet the goals of both the Proclamation and the Policy for the benefit of the Navajo Nation and its people.
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority • P.O. Box 170, Fort Defiance, AZ 86504 • Phone: (928) 729-5721 • 1-800-528-5011 Copyright © 2020 NTUA - An Enterprise of the Navajo Nation