Greetings Relatives/Frens/Humans: The following message is from a young Dine’ woman, Wahleah Johns, who has been in solar business for several years. You may have even met her about this time a year ago at the Navajo Nation Fair in Window Rock, Arizona. Wahleah and her solar company, Native Renewables, had a booth at Ashkie Happy Day or Children/Youth Day and Elders Day.
COVID-19 is not only killing our people and making them painfully sick but many of our people have lost their jobs, or had their pay cut.
And there are many that may no longer be able to work because there is no one to take of the children, who are also now in virtual classrooms. Most single heads of households are Dine’ women.
And it is Dine’ women who are a majority of the Navajo Nation government workforce, but a minority sitting on the Navajo Nation Council, which consists of 24 Council delegates.
There are three Dine’ women who are Council delegate: Amber Kanazbah Crotty, who won a second four-year term, is a Budget & Finance Committee member. Eugenia Charles-Newton and Charlaine Tso. Charles-Newton is the chairwoman of the Law & Order Committee. Tso is a Health, Education & Human Services Committee member.
Wahleah is asking for Public Comments of Support for the funding of her solar project, which will bring power to homes that are miles from power lines.
Ya’at’eeh relatives,
I am asking for your support to submit a public comment regarding the approval of legislation 0209-20 that includes Native Renewables solar proposal that would provide power to 625 families by December 30. (Template below)
Four weeks ago, Native Renewables submitted a $34 million residential solar plan that was approved by the Navajo Nation Council that would support 1,500 off-grid solar units to Navajo families. Last week President Nez line item vetoed our proposal and asked Native Renewables to resubmit a proposal for a lower amount of $15 million and to include the former Bennett Freeze region. Meanwhile, NTUA submitted a similar solar proposal that was approved by Nez for $35 million and has moved forward while our amended proposal goes back to the Naabikeyati committee and Navajo Nation Council via Legislation 0209-20 for approval. Legislation 0209-20 is sponsored by Kee Allen Begay Jr. and is the Office of President and Vice-President expenditure plan for the remaining balance of CARES funding that supports college students, solar, former Bennett Freeze and Etc.
Sponsor: Kee Allen Begay, Jr.
You can submit a comment via email at: comments@navajo-nsn.gov
Written comments may be mailed to: Executive Director Office of Legislative Services P.O. Box 3390 Window Rock, AZ 86515 (928) 871-7586
Comments may be made in the form of chapter resolutions, letters, position papers, etc. Please include your name, position title, address for written comments; a valid e-mail address is required. Anonymous comments will not be included in the Legislation packet.
TITLE: An Action Relating To Law And Order, Resources And Development, Health Education And Human Services, Budget And Finance, And Naabik’íyáti’ Committees, And The Navajo Nation Council; Approving And Adopting Navajo Nation Cares Fund Expenditure Plans Encompassing College Student Relief, Grammar School Student Relief, Education, Elders Assistance, Headstart, Solar Projects, Solid Waste, Hardship Assistance, Housing Projects, Office Of The Controller, Office Of Management And Budget, Telecommunications And Information Technology, Economic Development, Winter Propane Services, And Public Health
——————EXAMPLE of public comment ——————-
To: comments@navajo-nsn.gov
Date:
Dear 24th Navajo Nation Council Delegates,
Ya’at’eeh, my name is _ and I’m from . I’m writing to support the legislation 0205-20 that supports Native Renewables off-grid solar plan that will provide immediate emergency energy relief to remote and rural families without power on the Navajo Nation.
Sincerely,
Your name
Native Renewables (NR) has been outreaching to Chapters to request names of families that are in need of power. We have been getting questions from Chapters and the general public to explain how Native Renewables off-grid solar system is different from NTUA. They are slightly different. NTUA’s system is a little bigger and will have the ability to supply power to a water pump to homes with existing cisterns. The other difference is that NTUA will charge the customer $84.00 a month while NR will not. Because CARES funding is already paying for the total cost of the system, no charges should be applied to the customer.
NATIVE RENEWABLES (NR)
NTUA*
2.3 kW solar + battery storage
Powers: Refrigerator, lighting and small electronics
Includes an energy star refrigerator
Includes home wiring
Includes 7-year annual maintenance by NR
No monthly payment for customers
Supports local workforce
3.0 kW solar + battery storage
Powers: Refrigerator, electronics and for homes with existing cisterns: water pumps
Includes a 18 cubic foot refrigerator
Includes home wiring if homes are not already wired
Customer Payment: $84.00/month plus NN tax for Operation, Maintenance and Repair, a One-time NTUA account establishment fee of $10.60, and a One-time security deposit of $25.00
*source: https://www.ntua.com/caresactsolar.html
Native Renewables has been working on an approach to put power in the hands of the people by training a skilled Navajo workforce to build and install off-grid solar units.
Our workforce will include: Electricians; Welders; Warehouse workers; Drivers; Solar Installers; Community outreach and liaison
Off-grid solar supports rural living on Navajo and sovereignty we believe in. Native Renewables off-grid solar unit can last over 20 years, and the key is educating the customer on how to manage home energy loads. Native Renewables will provide culturally relevant education materials and videos for the customer and talk through any questions they may have. Off-grid solar is a time tested proven technology that is getting more efficient and affordable every year.
Thank you for reading all of this and it is to help inform you on the solar intiative we have proposed to the Navajo Nation. Happy to answer any questions.
Ahe’hee, Wahleah Johns, (928) 637-5281, Native Renewables
AGENDA OF THE
LAW AND ORDER COMMITTEE
24TH NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING – TELECONFERENCE
September 08, 2020
10:00 A.M.
Teleconference call number: (928) 223-3960)
PRESIDING: Honorable Eugenia Charles-Newton, Chairwoman
Honorable Otto Tso, Vice Chairperson
LOCATION: Navajo Nation Council Chambers, Window Rock, Arizona
[ ] Honorable Eugenia Charles-Newton [ ] Honorable Otto Tso
[ ] Honorable Vince James [ ] Honorable Edmund Yazzie
[ ] Honorable Eugene Tso
Hon. Eugenia Charles-Newton Location: ______________________
Hon. Vince James Location: ______________________
Hon. Eugene Tso Location: ______________________
Hon. Otto Tso Location: ______________________
Hon. Edmund Yazzie Location: ______________________
- Call Meeting to Order; Roll Call; & Invocation
- Recognize Guests and Visiting Officials
- Review and Adopt Agenda:
(M) (S) (V)
Vote Tally: ECN ( ) VJ ( ) ETSO ( ) OTSO ( ) EY ( ) - Review and Adopt the Journal(s): None
- Receiving Reports: None
- Old Business: None
- New Business
a. Legislation No. 0209-20: An Action Relating to Law and Order, Resources and
Development, Health, Education and Human Services, Budget and Finance, and
Naabik’iyati’ Committees, and the Navajo Nation Council; Approving and Adopting
Navajo Nation Cares Fund Expenditure Plans Encompassing College Student Relief,
Education, Elders Assistance, Headstart, Solar Projects, Solid Waste, Hardship
Assistance, Housing Projects, Office of the Controller, Office of Management and
Budget, Telecommunication and Information Technology, Economic Development,
Winter Propane Services, and Public Health – Sponsors: Honorable Kee Allen Begay,
Jr./Honorable Herman M. Daniels/Honorable Vince James/Honorable Charlaine Tso
(M) (S) (V)
Vote Tally: ECN ( ) VJ ( ) ETSO ( ) OTSO ( ) EY ( )
b. Legislation No. 0210-20: An Act Relating to Health, Education and Human Services,
Law and Order, Naabik’iyati’ and the Navajo Nation Council; Amending Title 17, Law
and Oder Code, by Enacting as an Offense, Section 378. “Violation of an Emergency
Order or Action” – Sponsor: Honorable Eugene Tso
(M) (S) (V)
Vote Tally: ECN ( ) VJ ( ) ETSO ( ) OTSO ( ) EY ( )
c. Legislation No. 0188-20: An Act relating to Law and Order, Budget and Finance,
Naabik’iyati’ Committees, and the Navajo Nation Council; Amending Navajo Nation
Code 12 N.N.C. §820(N) Appropriation Lapse – Sponsor: Honorable Otto Tso
(M) (S) (V)
Vote Tally: ECN ( ) VJ ( ) ETSO ( ) OTSO ( ) EY ( ) - Close of Meeting, Announcement, and Adjournment
(M) (S) (V)
Vote Tally: ECN ( ) VJ ( ) ETSO ( ) OTSO ( ) EY ( )
NEXT MEETING:
September 14, 2020 – Regular Meeting via teleconference
September 21, 2020 – Regular Meeting via teleconference
September 28, 2020 – Regular Meeting via teleconferenc
