Long in the dark, lights illuminate Diné community of Westwater after electrification effort reaches completion

BLANDING (Sept. 2, 2022) – Let there be light.

On Thursday, Sept. 1 – for the first time ever – electricity buzzed along newly installed power lines and into the 29 lots that form the Diné community of Westwater. Separated from Blanding City by a small creek bed, Navajo Nation residents can now expect affordable, reliable electricity in their homes after decades of promises.

“My heart swelled with joy when I heard the news,” Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said. “Commonplace in Blanding, the sight of power lines swooping from house to house in Westwater marks the fulfillment of a long-overdue promise to the Diné just outside Blanding. I won’t understate the difficulty of this project, but I can’t overstate the level of collaboration and generosity that got us here. I’m grateful for so many helping hands and deeply happy for the residents of Westwater.”

Gov. Spencer Cox applauded the news.

“The extraordinary efforts around bringing electricity to the community of Westwater have finally paid off,” Gov. Cox said. “This is a long time coming and we’re so grateful to the many leaders who have overcome tremendous obstacles to do the right thing and provide power to residents who desperately need it. I especially thank Lt. Gov. Henderson for her efforts getting this project closer to providing essential services — including water — for this community.” 

A uniquely difficult political and logistical challenge, the electrification effort received funding from the Navajo Nation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Utah Legislature. Tying the community into Blanding’s grid, which will work as a passthrough for electricity owned by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), required the cooperation of city, county, state, and tribal governments, as well as the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems.

“This is life-changing for these families who have lived without electricity in their homes for so many years, some who have never lived with electricity at all,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said. “Electricity not only provides lighting, heating, and other basic amenities, but it also opens doors to more opportunities. Last year, we welcomed Lt. Gov. Henderson to Westwater to visit with the families and to see their homes and the challenges they face. We are very grateful and appreciative to everyone who helped to finally deliver electricity to these homes including Gov. Cox, Lt. Gov. Henderson, NTUA, and many others. The work doesn’t end here – the next step is to deliver running water to these homes.”

Sen. David Hinkins and Rep. Phil Lyman sponsored appropriations requests for Westwater during the 2020 General Session.

“Blanding City stepped up. The Utah Legislature stepped up. The Navajo Nation stepped up,” Rep. Lyman said. “Seeing the lights on in the homes at Westwater is a good thing – a really good thing. I can’t thank Lt. Gov. Henderson – and so many others – enough for their fierce commitment to the people of Westwater.

Electrification is one part of a two-part promise to Westwater residents. On July 26, Blanding City approved an MOU with the state of Utah, Navajo Nation, NTUA, and San Juan County to bring running culinary water to residents. 

Blanding City inked the deal after the state awarded it with a $3.5 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act for a deep-water well with arsenic treatment. The much-needed well will help supplement water for Westwater and Blanding City. The Navajo Nation appropriated $5.5 million for water infrastructure on the Westwater side. Blanding City and San Juan County received additional funds for water infrastructure design and research. Community members currently truck in water.

Stakeholders will celebrate the achievement with a formal ceremony on Sept. 16 at the Utah State University Blanding. The campus overlooks Westwater.

• Find downloadable photos from Westwater here.
• Find downloadable b-roll from Westwater here.

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