H.C.R. 15

1

NAVAJO ELECTRIFICATION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
2 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
3 2011 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Christine F. Watkins
6 Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Congress to
11 continue the Navajo Electrification Demonstration Project and fund it so that the entire
12 Navajo Nation may receive electricity.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 . urges the United States Congress to reauthorize and continue the Navajo
16 Electrification Demonstration Project; and
17 . urges the United States Congress to provide the necessary funding of $15,000,000
18 per year for five years to the Navajo Electrification Demonstration Project so that
19 the basic necessity of electricity can become available to the entire Navajo Nation.
20 Special Clauses:
21 None
22
23 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
24 WHEREAS, the Navajo Electrification Demonstration Project was created by the
25 United States Congress and extended to provide funding for the rural electrification of homes
26 on the Navajo Nation that are not currently being served;
27 WHEREAS, under the original law, Navajo Electrification Demonstration Project

28 funding was authorized at an annual level of $15,000,000 for five years;
29 WHEREAS, to date, only $14,500,000, including a fiscal year 2011 allocation of
30 $1,750,000, has been appropriated to the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority out of the original
31 congressional authorization of $75,000,000;
32 WHEREAS, the Navajo Electrification Demonstration Project expands traditional
33 sources of power and implements renewable energy sources and other advanced electric power
34 technologies;
35 WHEREAS, the funds are funneled through the United States Department of Energy
36 and disbursed as grants to the Navajo Nation to provide electricity to approximately 18,000
37 homes on the Navajo reservation that currently lack this basic service;
38 WHEREAS, the act also authorized the United States Department of Energy to provide
39 technical support to the Navajo Nation in the use of advanced power technologies; and
40 WHEREAS, despite the passage of laws creating the Navajo Electrification
41 Demonstration Project, Congress must act to appropriate the funds in order for the money to be
42 distributed to the project:
43 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
44 Governor concurring therein, urge the United States Congress to reauthorize and continue the
45 Navajo Electrification Demonstration Project.
46 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the United
47 States Congress to fund the Navajo Electrification Demonstration Project to provide the
48 necessary funding of $15,000,000 per year for five years, so that the basic necessity of
49 electricity can become available to the entire Navajo Nation.
50 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Majority
51 Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
52 the Navajo Nation, and to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-8-11 9:27 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel