In the foothills of the Chuska Mountains within the Navajo Nation, Katherine Benally, 74, sits by her window hoping for a cooling breeze. Her home, like those of 13,000 other families in the region, lacks access to the electrical grid. Though her family once thrived without modern conveniences, rising global temperatures now make electricity essential.

Last year, the Navajo Nation declared an extreme heat emergency as temperatures soared above 110 degrees. Benally, who uses solar panels to power a small refrigerator and a couple of light bulbs, yearns for the comfort of air conditioning.

Efforts to electrify the Navajo Nation, one of the poorest regions in the U.S., have taken on greater urgency. The non-profit initiative Light Up Navajo, involving 46 utility companies from 16 states, is working to connect families to the power grid. This initiative, akin to mutual aid pacts used after natural disasters, faces significant challenges due to the region’s rugged terrain and arid climate.

Bryan English, a crew foreman with Trico Electric Cooperative, expressed his frustration: “I don’t think any part of America shouldn’t have electricity in 2024.”

Despite the Navajo Nation’s rich energy resources, historical and political factors have hindered its electrification. Private companies have exploited these resources without benefiting the local community. The Rural Electrification Act of the 1930s, which helped many rural areas, largely bypassed Native American nations. Further complicating efforts, a 40-year federal development ban known as the Bennett Freeze, lifted in 2009, stymied infrastructure development on 1.5 million acres of Navajo land.

Electrifying this vast area is costly, with an estimated $40,000 required per family due to the remote, desert landscape. With average annual household incomes just over $30,000, the Navajo Nation faces a massive financial challenge. Without initiatives like Light Up Navajo, extending electricity to all 13,000 families could cost nearly $1 billion.

Since its inception in 2019, Light Up Navajo has connected almost 850 families, relying on a mix of private and federal funding. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority partners with the American Public Power Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, among others, to provide year-round efforts to prepare homes for electrification.

Life without electricity in the Navajo Nation is difficult, especially as temperatures rise. Residents use vehicles to charge phones and get brief relief from the heat. Many rely on solar panels, camp-style coolers, and improvised shading to cope. Arlene Henry, 56, lives with her family on a small compound, constantly seeking shade and struggling to keep her son’s supplemental oxygen powered.

So far this summer, Light Up Navajo has connected 125 homes, aiming for 25 more by the end of July. William Lee Tom Jr., 56, is one of the recent beneficiaries. Living without electricity for 15 years, he often slept outside due to the heat. After the power hookup, Tom turned on a light bulb in his house for the first time, his face lighting up with excitement.

As the Navajo Nation continues to battle extreme heat and historical inequities, the mission to electrify homes is more critical than ever. Light Up Navajo’s efforts bring hope to many, promising a future where electricity, and the comfort it brings, is within reach for all Navajo families.