Grid reliability is a necessity in our modern world. Our electricity grid is vital infrastructure that ensures power for every industry and American household. A cornerstone of our electricity grid is coal, which provides baseload power that can backstop intermittent sources of electricity when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Coal power plants can keep reserves on site, an insurance policy against pipeline disruptions or uncooperative weather.
The Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) has been supplying coal to power plants for more than 50 years. On top of its commercial contribution, NTEC donates coal to Navajo and Hopi communities in need. On March 3, 2021, the company announced it had distributed its 10,000th ton of coal on day 63 of this season’s operations. NTEC provides coal through its Community Heating Resource Program (CHRP), which has also provided COVID relief support. Whether through the grid or off of it, coal is a foundation for communities and our modern way of life.