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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. \u2013 A giant array of solar panels near the famed sandstone buttes of Monument Valley has begun producing electricity for the Navajo Nation at a time when the tribe is bracing for the loss of hundreds of jobs from the impending closure of a nearby coal-fired power plant.<\/p>\n
The Kayenta Solar Facility is the first utility-scale solar project on the Navajo Nation, producing enough electricity to power about 13,000 Navajo homes.<\/p>\n
The plant comes at a time when the area\u2019s energy landscape is shifting.<\/p>\n
The coal-fired Navajo Generating Station near Page is set to close in December 2019, leaving a site that both tribal and private entities say has potential for renewable energy development.<\/p>\n
The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, which owns the solar plant, said the project advances clean energy on the reservation long known for fossil fuel development, the Arizona Daily Sun reported.<\/p>\n
Walter Haase, general manager of the tribal utility, said the plant proves to investors, developers and tribal communities that renewable energy projects are possible on the reservation.<\/p>\n
Economic development often is hampered by the lack of infrastructure, required environmental clearances and consent from anyone holding a permit or lease for use of the land.<\/p>\n
Before the solar facility, \u201cwe had a reputation in the industry of not being able to get something built or brought online,\u201d Haase said.<\/p>\n
The town of Kayenta benefited, too. The contractor hired and trained about 200 Navajos to build the plant, said Deenise Becenti, a spokeswoman for the tribal utility, leaving a qualified workforce for other projects.<\/p>\n
The tribal utility avoided passing on the $60 million cost of the solar plant to its customers through federal solar investor tax credits, said Glenn Steiger, project manager for the solar farm.<\/p>\n
A two-year power purchase and renewable energy credit agreement with the Salt River Project will cover loan repayments for the plant\u2019s construction, Steiger said.<\/p>\n
The tribal utility is working on extending the agreement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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