Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Window Rock, Navajo Nation (Arizona) - President of the Navajo Nation Kelsey A. Begaye expresses his gratitude for United States Senator Jeff Bingaman’s (New Mexico) initiative and work on the Navajo Electrification Project, a five-year, $75 million funding proposal passed last November by the U.S. Congress. The proposal, sponsored by Senator Bingaman and co-sponsored by Senator Pete V. Domenici (New Mexico), would utilize innovative technology to electrify rural homes on the Navajo Reservation.

The Navajo Electrification Project, authorized through Section 602 of Public Law 106-511, contained authorized funds of $15 million per year. This year, in fiscal year 2002, the U.S. Congress appropriated $3 million to the U.S. Department of Energy budget to support the project. On November 12, 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush signed the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2002 into Public Law 107-66.

To implement the project immediately, the Navajo Nation anticipates the funds to be utilized by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA). President Begaye noted the significance of the initial funding to begin the electrification project. "It's very difficult to get seed money out of Congress", said President Begaye, "Which is why we are especially impressed and very gracious for the work of Senators Bingaman and Domenici for continuing to push for full funding of this project. I will continue to advocate for the full funding with U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham - that's $15 million per year, as the authorizing legislation clearly articulates."

The NTUA will utilize the initial $3 million for fiscal year 2002, to bring first-time electricity services to hundreds of homes across the Navajo Nation. According to NTUA General Manager Randall N. Medicine Bear, in the next nine months, NTUA hopes to wire 150 homes and connect 362 identified homes near NTUA’s existing distribution lines. In the future, solar, wind, and other renewable projects will be considered as the Department of Energy advances funding.

"President Begaye is committed to implementing the Navajo Electrification Project", said Arvin Trujillo, Director of the Navajo Division of Natural Resources, and the Begaye/McKenzie administration’s lead on this initiative, "This project begins that process over the next five years - to develop the needed infrastructure, both from the sense of equipment, as well as, manpower; to bring basic electric services to the homes of Navajo people so that they, too, can enjoy basic conveniences that many other communities take for granted."

Mr. Trujillo added, that in order to achieve this significant endeavor of bringing electricity to at least 18,000 homes, the Navajo Nation needs the fully authorized amount of $15 million per year.

On Thursday, December 6, 2001, President Begaye will attend the Bureau of Indian Affairs Energy Summit in Denver, Colorado. At the Summit, President Begaye, in a keynote luncheon address, is expected to announce the Navajo Nation’s proposals for energy development on the Navajo Nation. United States Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Neal McCaleb, and other federal representatives are expected to attend the summit.