The Navajo Nation is expanding a solar energy initiative that is bringing electricity to some of the most remote communities on the reservation, where an estimated 15,000 households — roughly one-third of homes on the Nation — still lack connection to the power grid.
The expanded program, funded through a combination of federal infrastructure grants, tribal funds, and private partnerships, will install off-grid solar systems with battery storage at 2,500 additional homes over the next two years, more than doubling the number of households served since the initiative began in 2023.
“For families who have lived without electricity their entire lives, solar power is transformational,” said Navajo Nation president Buu Nygren. “It means children can study after dark, elders can refrigerate medications, and families can stay connected to the wider world.”
The Navajo Nation spans 27,000 square miles across parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, making it the largest Native American reservation in the country. The vast distances and rugged terrain make traditional grid extension prohibitively expensive for many communities, often costing $50,000 or more per household for power line installation.
Off-grid solar systems, by contrast, can be installed for a fraction of that cost. Each household system typically includes rooftop panels, a battery pack capable of storing several days’ worth of power, and basic wiring for lights, refrigeration, and device charging.
Wahleah Johns, who directs the tribal utility authority’s renewable energy program, said the installations are carried out by trained Navajo workers, creating jobs while building technical expertise within the community.
“We’re not just installing panels — we’re developing a workforce and an industry that belongs to the Navajo people,” Johns said. “Every installation is done by Navajo hands.”
The program has drawn attention as a model for addressing energy poverty in Indian Country. Representatives from several other tribal nations have visited to study the initiative, and the Biden-era federal investment in tribal energy infrastructure has provided significant financial support.
Resident Dolores Begay, who received a solar system at her home near Kayenta last year, said the change has been profound. “I am 73 years old, and for the first time in my life I have a refrigerator and a light I can read by. My grandchildren think it is magic.”
