New Solar Installations Bring Reliable Power to More Navajo Homes in Arizona

Nine additional families on the Navajo Nation now have access to home electricity through an expanding solar initiative led by Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC (NTEC), with much of the program’s early progress concentrated in the Arizona portion of the reservation.

The installations are part of NTEC’s Navajo Sun Power! program, a first-of-its-kind initiative that delivers off-grid solar systems to homes in remote communities where connection to traditional electric infrastructure is often not feasible. The effort is aimed at addressing persistent energy access challenges that continue to affect many rural Navajo households.

Company officials said the systems provide enough electricity to support everyday necessities, including lighting, refrigeration, heating, water access equipment and medical devices. For many residents, the installations represent the first dependable source of electricity in their homes.

“This effort is creating real change for families who have gone too long without basic services,” said Andy Hawkins, NTEC’s Community Relations Senior Manager. “Access to reliable power opens the door to safer, healthier and more stable living conditions.”

Program's Support

The program is supported through a partnership between NTEC and the U.S. Department of Energy, combining federal resources with company investment and oversight. Early projects in Monument Valley, which straddles the Arizona-Utah border, helped demonstrate that standalone rooftop solar systems can successfully serve homes in isolated areas where terrain, permitting and infrastructure barriers limit grid access.

NTEC also said the program goes beyond electricity. After installation, the company works with participating households to connect them with complementary government programs that fund critical home improvements, including water cistern systems and first-time family bathrooms.

According to the company, the Navajo Sun Power! initiative is structured around a five-year rollout plan with annual benchmarks designed to track progress and expand access across the region. NTEC said homeowners receive the systems at no cost and maintain full ownership once installation is complete, and that the company earns no profit from the installations.

As more systems are deployed throughout Arizona communities on the Navajo Nation, the company says the program could serve as a long-term model for expanding energy access in underserved rural areas.