The Red Mesa Tapaha Solar Project, located on Navajo tribal lands in the extreme southeast corner of Utah, has begun commercial operations and is now supplying power to members of Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS). A power purchase agreement between UAMPS and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Generation-Utah LLC., a subsidiary of Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), makes solar energy available to UAMPS members for 25 years.
Established in 1980, UAMPS is an energy services interlocal agency of Utah. As a project-based consortium, UAMPS provides a variety of power supply, transmission and other services to its 50 members — including many of Utah’s smaller municipal utilities — serving 395,600 customers in the seven western states of Utah, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming.
The Red Mesa Tapaha Solar Resource is a 72-megawatt solar photovoltaic generation facility that went into commercial operations on April 20.
In a release, UAMPS said it will purchase power from Red Mesa at the rate of $37 per megawatt hour, including renewable energy credits. This gives UAMPS the opportunity to diversify its power sources and provides members with a low-cost, long-term supply of renewable energy.
“The Red Mesa project is a valuable asset to UAMPS members looking to expand their access to clean energy at a competitive price,” said Mason Baker, UAMPS CEO. “This is a valuable alternative energy project that supports both UAMPS and the Navajo Nation community with the possibility of leading to additional projects and partnerships in the future.”
NTUA has developed two utility-scale solar projects within the past three years on the Navajo Nation and is in the process of developing additional solar resources on and off the reservation. NTUA will use a significant amount of its proceeds from the proposed project to support electrification on the Navajo Nation, such as its “Light Up Navajo” mutual aid initiative.
“This project will serve both UAMPS and NTUA customers,” NTUA General Manager Walter Haase said. “UAMPS will be able to add another clean, carbon-free energy asset to their portfolio, while the project has created much-needed jobs for the Navajo Nation, will keep NTUA electric rates stabilized and brings opportunity for electric connection to families who have not had access. It is a win-win situation for everyone.”
