San Carlos Apache Tribe Seeks Answers After 21-Hour Power Outage

The San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman, Terry Rambler, is demanding answers after the northern half of the southeastern Arizona tribe's reservation experienced a 21-hour power outage last weekend due to a major electrical transmission line being blown down by a storm.

"This kind of electrical failure is usually equated with developing countries, not the United States," Rambler stated on Monday.

Officials of the tribe have labeled the transmission line as outdated, noting that it frequently malfunctions, leaving residents and businesses on the reservation without power for extended periods, sometimes lasting for days.

The tribe has made numerous requests to federal authorities to replace the transmission line, which is located in a remote area between Coolidge Dam and Winkelman.

Rambler has penned a letter to Interior Secretary Deborah Haaland regarding the recent power outage and is scheduled to meet with her in Washington, D.C. next month to discuss funding solutions to prevent future outages.

On August 5th, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs announced two notices of intent to release a combined $30 million in grants. One grant would support tribal clean energy planning and development, while the other would aid tribal colleges and universities in transitioning to clean energy.

From 2010 to 2022, the Office of Indian Energy has invested over $120 million in more than 210 tribal energy projects across the contiguous 48 states and Alaska. However, there has been minimal discussion about investing in modernizing electrical grid systems on the San Carlos reservation, which spans 1.8 million acres across parts of three Arizona counties.

The San Carlos Irrigation Project, established in 1924 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, was created to provide electricity to residents on and off the reservation, as well as irrigation water and pumping to private landowners.

What do you think?

• Should the federal government allocate more funding to update infrastructure on Native American reservations?
• Is it fair that tribal communities often face outdated and unreliable systems compared to other parts of the country?
• What steps can be taken to prevent future power outages on reservations like the San Carlos Apache Tribe?