WASHINGTON — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and leadership from the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) met with Shawn Fitzgerald, Special Advisor, and the U.S. Department of Energy Energy Dominance Financing Team to explore financing opportunities through the Tribal Energy Finance Program aimed at strengthening critical infrastructure across the Navajo Nation.
During the meeting, Navajo leadership discussed ways NTUA could leverage the Tribal Energy Finance Program to implement essential infrastructure upgrades, including energy systems, wastewater treatment facilities, waterlines, and natural gas expansion. These investments are vital to improving living conditions, expanding economic opportunity, and modernizing utility services in rural communities.
“Programs like these will make large infrastructure differences across the Navajo Nation, but more importantly, they allow families to find local employment in the trades, turn on a light switch for the first time, or refrigerate necessary medication,” President Nygren said.
The Tribal Energy Finance Program supports tribal investment in energy-related projects by offering direct loans and loan guarantees to federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native villages, Tribal Energy Development Organizations (TEDOs), and Tribal corporations.
Under the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office Direct Loan Program, the agency may provide a 100 percent guarantee on a loan covering up to 80 percent of eligible project costs through the Federal Financing Bank (FFB). Projects supported under this structure must demonstrate sufficient cash flow to meet debt service requirements.
Through the Loan Guarantee Program, the Department of Energy may guarantee loans issued by eligible lenders and can consider, on a case-by-case basis, guarantees of up to 90 percent of a loan covering as much as 80 percent of eligible project costs.
NTUA remains one of the largest employers on the Navajo Nation, with more than 890 employees and an additional 200 to 600 contract personnel supporting its operations. Strategic use of federal financing tools would not only modernize infrastructure but also strengthen the local workforce and expand long-term economic stability for Navajo families.