navajo families who've never had electricity are for the first time seeing the light - solar energy traffic lights

TONALEA, Ariz.
-The Little Foot family has been dead for 17 years.
They live a low life.
When the day is dark, the generator and the use of flashlights and kerosene lamps.
"There is no electricity in 17 years, so it is difficult . . . . . . We have some appliances and we can't run it, "Sr. Ernest littfordsaid.
The family is one of the 15,000 Navajo families that have been living in the dark for centuries.
A large part of the Navajo Nation-the country's largest Native American territory-has never done such basic things as turning on a light switch or using an oven.
But for now, the land of Native Americans has not had a grid, and there is not enough solar energy.
Michael Hailan, senior vice president of engineering services at the American Public Power Association, said: "The idea of having these excellent American citizens without power is incredible . ".
A few weeks ago, the family powered on for the first time.
While the staff had some solar energy before they dug the wires, it was not enough for basic things like storing food in a refrigerator and lighting up the house.
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, a non-profit tribe-
State-owned utilities, founded in 1959, have been working slowly to address the power shortage of the Navajo reserve, which is located in parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
For the first time in history, authorities have tried to connect tribal families with electricity.
Dozens of volunteer power line workers from 25 utilities in 12 states have been traveling to the Native American reserve as part of a pilot project called LightUpNavajo, helping to install the company has been raising money through online activities.
Staff sometimes work with workers in another state to install electricity in different homes.
From April to 5, they built power lines for more than 233 families in total.
"We used to, when it was dark . . . . . . We run around and feel about everything, or we open it . . . . . . The flashlight or I have a few candles here, "said the wife of Felice littford Ernest.
"Now I'm in, I'm just turning on the lights and everything's going on, I'm just coming home from work and going to bed and sometimes I wake up at night.
"Oh, we have electricity, no solar energy.
I saw the night light still on . . . . . . I don't want to cry, but I'm so happy.
"Depending on the terrain, the average cost of a utility line about a mile long is between $60,000 and $70,000.
Gaylda Tso, the head of the Office of the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority in Tuba City, says it seems to be a basic necessity for the family, but in booking it is common to live without electricity
Jon Summers: Electric cars paved the way for bipartisan co-operation "I was very excited when I heard about the project and I was on board to help all these customers without electricity . . . . . . "They are facing high costs, a mile closer to the main wire," tso said . ".
"I hope I can reach more customers and have more customers outside, but we did our best to serve our region.
"The project was completed after NTUA general manager Walter Haase spoke with members of the American Public Power Association at events across the country.
APPA already has a mutual aid program to send power personnel to natural disaster areas-so they decided to work together, using mutual aid to help people who have been a disaster for decades-installed in the home of Native American families is powered on for the first time.
"We are all Americans and we need to help each other and be a better and bigger place," Haase said . ".
Haase said that in the 1930 s and 1920 s, when the USDA's rural utility services company went to co-
Ops, NUTA does not exist, investors-
Utilities that were supposed to serve the Navajo ethnic region did not.
"That's why we're a little late in providing services, and -- because we're late -- the dollars and resources the federal government provides to others do not provide our people with the population of the United States, said haase.
The Department of Energy is now trying to replicate the effort in Alaska, Oklahoma City and other areas without electricity.
Officials who Click here to get the Fox News app Navajo project say they want to power their families many times a year.
The only thing holding them back is money.
Projects like this cost about $1 billion to power 200plusresidents.
So their goal now is to raise money.
"Our prayers, our beliefs, our hopes and our dreams have come true," said Felice . ".
"The miracle happened, I said.
I'm glad it's all right now . . . . . . Now I don't think we need to do anything, just turn on the switch and there will be lights like oh God gave us light