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In AZ visit, U.S. Energy secretary announces grants for Indigenous communities

By Kirsten Dorman
Published: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 4:32pm
Updated: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - 7:23am

Coverage of tribal natural resources is supported in part by Catena Foundation

Jennifer Granholm
White House
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in 2021.

In a visit to Arizona this week, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced several grants to fund projects benefiting Indigenous communities. Among those projects is a microgrid controller to power four remote water pumps and solar powered diesel generators.

“These communities and communities like them across the country bear the burden of old infrastructure,” Granholm said. “Infrastructure that may be fragile and is failing. Failing electrical equipment, for example.”

Leaders from the Hopi Tribe, San Carlos Apache Tribe and Navajo Nation were also present.

Granholm said these grants are just the beginning of future announcements across the country.