The Hannon Armstrong Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic organization with a mission to accelerate a just transition toward an equitable, inclusive, and climate positive future, today announced a $200,000 donation to Native Renewables, an Arizona-based non-profit organization that empowers Native American families to achieve energy independence by expanding renewable energy capacity and affordable access to off-grid power.
Founded in 2016 by two Navajo women to address the inequity in energy access within Native communities, Native Renewables invests in tribal members, builds the technical capacity of a local workforce, and works to grow a clean energy economy.
The Hannon Armstrong Foundation’s two-year grant will support Native Renewable’s Hozho Homes Program, an initiative to provide Hopi and Navajo families access to off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, either free of charge or through low-interest leases. The program also supports a workforce development program that trains Native American solar installers to build and maintain off-grid PV systems and prepares those installers to work on projects nationwide.
“The Hannon Armstrong Foundation is proud to partner with Native Renewables and help scale their work to provide families the affordable, reliable, and clean electricity necessary to catalyze a just transition,” said Hannon Armstrong Foundation President Jeffrey W. Eckel. “Access to electricity for Navajo families is expensive, as power-line extension is costly, and limited financing options exist for low- and moderate-income families to pay for power. The Hozho Homes Program is addressing energy access challenges head-on by providing low-cost solar options to Native communities in need.”
“I am thrilled that industry partners like Hannon Armstrong are investing in Indigenous organizations and communities to support equitable and affordable energy access for families,” said Suzanne Singer (Diné), Co-Founder and Executive Director, Native Renewables.