SAN CARLOS APACHE RESERVATION, Ariz. — Chairman Terry Rambler of the San Carlos Apache Tribe has expressed concerns following a 21-hour power outage on the northern half of the reservation over the weekend. The outage occurred due to a storm knocking down a crucial electrical transmission line. Rambler emphasized the unusual nature of such electrical failures in the United States compared to developing countries. Tribal officials have labeled the transmission line as outdated, with frequent failures causing residents and businesses on the reservation to endure prolonged periods without power.
Efforts have been made by the tribe to urge federal authorities to replace the problematic transmission line situated in a remote area between Coolidge Dam and Winkelman. Rambler has taken further steps by reaching out to Interior Secretary Deborah Haaland regarding the recent power outage. A meeting between Rambler and Haaland is scheduled in Washington, D.C. next month to discuss potential funding solutions aimed at preventing similar future outages.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs announced intentions to release grants totaling $30 million on August 5. These grants are intended to support tribal clean energy initiatives and aid tribal colleges and universities in transitioning to clean energy sources. Despite significant investments made in tribal energy projects across various states between 2010 and 2022, there is a lack of focus on modernizing the electrical grid systems on the 1.8 million-acre San Carlos reservation spanning parts of three Arizona counties.
Dating back to 1924, the San Carlos Irrigation Project, established by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, was meant to supply electricity to reservation residents and external landowners with irrigation water and pumping services. Discussions surrounding the need for upgrades and modernization of the electrical infrastructure on the reservation have been amplified following the recent power outage incident, shedding light on the urgency of addressing these critical issues.
