Plateau Solar Project for the Navajo Nation
A Navajo elder in prayer
Plateau Solar Project is the first comprehensive and clean energy solution in
Indian country bringing solar electricity, water, sanitation and to include
weatherization, green jobs, and solar maintenance. Plateau Solar Project brings
rural Navajo elders into the 21st century. These are primarily Navajo elders 65
to 101 years old who have no electricity, water or sanitation. They are living
with Kerosene lights, outhouses and have to haul in all of their water.
Nowhere in America are there more people without electricity than on tribal
lands. Despite the fact that the Navajo and Hopi tribes are the major
electricity producers for the entire Southwest nearly 20,000 rural Navajo homes
do not have electrification or basic human services. Moreover, a significant
number of these homes are occupied by underprivileged elders with health issues
or disabilities. And, for over 40 years approximately 8,000 Navajo residents in
the Former Bennett Freeze Area of Western Navajo Nation were prevented from
building new homes, improving roads and infrastructure or even repairing roofs
or windows on their existing homes. These severe federal restrictions subjected
thousands of Navajos to incomprehensible poverty rarely seen in modern times.
Each multi-purpose utility structure is powered by an array of solar panels that
automatically track the sun, like this one.
In response to this energy crisis, Navajo non-profit
IINA Solutions 1 and
international solar specialist Mark Snyder Electric and Global Solar Water Power
Systems established the Plateau Solar Project to bring solar electricity to
rural Native elders and priority need residents in northern Arizona and
northwestern New Mexico. With funds from Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF)
2 and Grand Canyon Trust, Phase One of the
Plateau Solar Project commenced on the evening of January 14, 2011 with a 2
kilowatt solar installation at the home of Paula Curtis. Mrs. Curtis, a single
parent with six children lives in the rural Canyon Diablo area of Leupp Navajo
Chapter, is one of two underprivileged Navajo residents who qualified for a
demonstration solar unit fully funded by Renewable Energy Investment Fund.
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The Plateau Solar Project takes an uncompromising approach to its solar
installation program. “Our field assessment demonstrated the need for
conscientious solar installation practices in Indian country, more so for
unschooled elders living in rural areas. Paramount concerns in designing a
robust solar system with a potential lifespan of 25 years include complying with
safety principles even though the tribe has no safety and installation
standards, proper wiring and re-wiring, training, regular maintenance,
integrating sanitation features, and sustainable job creation”, said Elsa
Johnson, Director of IINA Solutions.
To protect the solar units from harsh elements of the region, Mark Snyder
designed the Enertopia Multi-Purpose Utility Structure (EMPUS), patent
pending. This insulated, climate-controlled structure will store a domestic
water tank, solar batteries, and 2kw of solar PV electric with room for solar
thermal and solar hot air space heating designed to reduce the amount of wood
needed for home heating in the winter. This will also, provide year round hot
water for domestic needs including a composting toilet, sink and shower and
water catchment. The solar heating systems have a special ultra-low power wall
heater providing space heating with water and hot air. The EMPUS is a solar
device itself acting as a heating and cooling module with the home.
Plateau Project Director, Elsa Johnson, gives a tour of a completed utility shed
to National American Indian Housing Council Executive Director, Mellor Willie.
Each elder will be trained on proper use and care of their system. MidNite Solar
invented a charge controller with Navajo voice-over for monitoring and alerting
maintenance personnel. Two well insulated ducts connect the self-contained EMPUS
to the home of the elder.
Mark Snyder, owner of Mark Snyder Electric
and president of GSWPS said, “The Plateau Solar Project is
very important and will bring essential electrical, water and sanitation
services to off grid Native Americans who have been ignored for far too long."
IINA Solutions will continue to seek project funds and expand its outreach
throughout the rest of Western Navajo and the Colorado Plateau for eligible
no-or-low income elders.
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