FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — The U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday a multi-million dollar investment to equip hundreds of homes in the Navajo Nation with solar panels.
Given the size of the Navajo territory, reliable power supply can be a problem. Even today, around 15,000 households do not have access to sufficient electricity.
Nolan and Sarah Huskon were among these households, having lived without electricity south of Cameron for decades.
“We don’t have electricity, we don’t have light. We also don’t have running water, so it was basically like camping,” Sarah said. “Camping outside every day.”
The couple said it was a daily struggle to keep food cool, especially in the summer. They drove to Cameron or Flagstaff every day to get ice to keep their food cool. They said this cost them hundreds of dollars each month in gas or running their generator.
“We had to run back to town to get some more ice blocks, and that was our daily task all summer long,” Sarah said. “Every day!”
Thanks to Navajo Power Home, which has already installed solar panels in 270 Navajo homes, they finally have electricity and a refrigerator.
On Wednesday, Assistant Secretary of Energy David Turk visited the couple and saw the solar facility firsthand, before announcing a $5 million investment through a Rural Energy Improvement Grant to benefit Navajo Power Home to improve access to solar on Navajo lands.
“There should be no one in our country without access to electricity,” Turk said. “We are also pleased to announce a $5 million grant to Navajo Power Home, which will bring electricity to an additional 350 homes thanks to President Biden’s historic climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act.”
Solar panel manufacturer Qcells has already delivered 1,000 solar panels and announced that it will deliver more to power 300 additional homes. The company also manufactures its solar panels in the United States.
“We manufacture solar panels here in this country, but we also use those solar panels to provide electricity to people who, frankly, haven’t had electricity for decades,” said Jigar Shah of the DOE’s Loan Programs Office.
With all the funding and solar panels, NPH will achieve its goal of powering 1,000 Navajo homes by 2025.
“The solar panel really helped us, so it’s a lot easier now,” Sarah said. “Now we can enjoy our retirement, haha.”
For more information about the program and how to apply, visit the NPH website here.
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