NTUA seeks Black Mesa wind study
funding

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Tribal Utility Authority has submitted a $250,000 funding request to the U.S. Department of Energy which, if granted, would allow the Navajo Nation enterprise to conduct a wind feasibility study at Black Mesa.

Terry Battiest, renewable energy specialist for NTUA, said the tribal entity is very interested in helping develop wind and other renewable energy sources available on the Navajo Nation.

“The project is one of three grant applications in which we’re looking to assess the wind resource up at Black Mesa,” Battiest said. “It is a site where there is a communications facility and there is some electricity infrastructure that we believe will be helpful in developing the project.

“If we find that the wind resource there merits development, we already have some power lines that are going down into the distribution power lines network, so it’s a very attractive site for us.”

NTUA is looking at a location on the northern edge of Black Mesa about 10 miles west of Kayenta and 20 miles from the Peabody Western Coal Co. mine site.

“The funding that we’re seeking is really what I would call ‘first steps’ funding. In order to even start the project, we have to go through some right of way and permitting processes. Once that is completed then we’ll purchase the anemometer towers,” Battiest said.

“The project is to assess the wind resource. Once we’re able to determine what the resource is, then we will return and follow tribal protocol to develop the project.”

There are more than 18,000 homes on the Navajo Nation which do not have electricity.

Harve Holiday, acting customer service supervisor for NTUA in Kayenta, during a recent tour of a power line extension at Black Mesa Area 1, recalled how appreciative some customers are when they finally do receive electricity.

“I’ve seen a lot of these line extensions that have been constructed, and it’s really satisfying to see these people.

When you’re at their home and they turn on the switch, and you see these sparkling eyes and the thankfulness that they express — that’s the most rewarding thing that you can see as far as working for NTUA.”

Sometimes when there is a delay in providing electricity to people who never expected to see it to start with, Holiday said their remark is generally, “Well, I’ve lived without it for so many years, another month won’t hurt.”

Some people say “thank you” is not enough, so they hold appreciation dinners for all those involved in making the electric power hookup a reality.

Holiday recalled one power line extension to the home of an elderly couple at Cowsprings and a story told during the appreciation meal.

“The old man, he was always herding sheep. He’d herd sheep all day, then come back in the evening, tend to his flock and come in when it was dark.”

One day, his wife and kids went to town and left food prepared for him for when he came in from herding sheep.

“The first thing he did, he went to his kerosene lamp and turned it on and he was sitting there by his kerosene lamp, eating away. Here comes his wife and kids, and they walk in and turn on the lights, and say, ‘What are you doing there with the kerosene lamp?’

“He said, ‘Oh, yeah, I forgot I had power!’”