The Navajo Nation says it’s making the move to renewable energy with construction of a utility-scale solar farm on its property near Monument Valley.
The facility, which will be located on a 300 acre site, will generate enough power for 7,700 reservation homes, when it’s completed next year. Dee-neese Biscenti, public affairs director for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, says the plant is part of a long-term strategy to change the way Tribes deliver power.
"For the past several years, NTUA has explored renewable energy resource possibilities," she said. "This solar farm is our move into that field, to establish a green economy for the Navajo Nation."
Biscenti says this is the first effort by the Navajo Nation to generate its own power. In the past, the Tribe has purchased power elsewhere. The $64 million plant is being built with a combination of federal loans and tax credits.