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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDelaware team helps bring electricity to remote Navajo town (opinion)
Heather Contant is director of media relations and communications for the Delaware Municipal Electric Cooperation.
You may find it shocking that there are currently people in our country who do not have access to electric power. However, in the Navajo Nation there are still 15,000 families who do not know what its like to come home and turn on the lights or grab something out of a cold refrigerator.
After learning about the Light Up Navajo project, spearheaded by the areas local utility, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), several Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC) member communities felt it was time to step up.
In April, DEMEC sent a four-man crew consisting of two linemen from the city of Milford and two from the town of Smyrna, along with DEMEC Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Power Supply Kimberly Schlichting for a week to help bring electricity to families in the Navajo Nation.
Many families spent decades trying to get electricity but, due to several factors including federal government restrictions it was an expensive and tedious undertaking.
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2019/06/04/delaware-team-brings-electricity-remote-town-opinion/1332951001/
csziggy
(34,120 posts)Wouldn't it be more efficient to provide solar panels and batteries to remote households, especially in a sun drenched area like the Navajo Reservation?
turbinetree
(24,632 posts)Also, Navajo land is held in trust by the federal government. This means private property ownership is difficult and residents often are responsible for the costs incurred by power or waterline extensions.
DURHAM D
(32,596 posts)http://navajopost.org/murray-power-to-help-make-navajo-nation-bright/
This is also interesting -
http://web.dscc.com/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=3293