Navajo Energy Policy ready for legislation Gallup Independent July 6, 2013 By Kathy Helms Diné Bureau navajo1@gallupindependent WINDOW ROCK — The proposed Navajo Nation Energy Policy of 2013 received final review Tuesday from the Resources and Development Committee and is moving through the process to be put into legislation form after several years of effort. Michelle Henry of the Division of Natural Resources said the Energy Advisory Committee, made up of various Navajo divisions and departments, began work on the proposed policy in February 2010. Additionally, Steve Gundersen, owner of Tallsalt Advisors in Scottsdale and new chairman of the Navajo Transitional Energy Co. Management Committee, “was a critical part of putting the policy together,” she said. A number of public meetings were held, including town hall forums by President Ben Shelly during which he presented the energy policy and encouraged attendees to submit their comments on development of the policy. If approved by the Navajo Nation Council, the new version would rescind the 1980 energy policy adopted by the former Tribal Council. Fred White, executive director of the Division of Natural Resources, said the proposed policy came before Resources on March 28, 2012. After five work sessions, Resources went through the language and “had an opportunity to dot every I and cross every T.” “The last time we reviewed this, part of the recommendations was for the committee to review the final draft and once consensus was made, then to move it through the process for a legislation,” Resources Vice Chairman Roscoe Smith said. The draft, which was read into the record, sets forth principles relating to the exploration, development, sustainable management and use of energy resources on the Navajo Nation, including fuel resources, mines, generation facilities, transmission and distribution infrastructure and pipelines. Coal According to the policy, coal and coal-fired power plants are a significant component of the Navajo economy and the Nation’s revenues, making a significant contribution to the support of many Navajo families and to the financial stability of the tribal government. Although some of the Nation’s fossil fuels are “out of favor with federal and state regulatory and environmental policies,” those policies negatively impact the Navajo Nation. As trustee, the federal government has a duty to protect the Nation’s energy resources and to assist the Nation to manage those resources for the benefit of the Diné. “The United States government is to engage in government- to-government dialogue and understanding and to respect Navajo Nation’s decision in the use of its resources,” the policy states. As a coal producer, the Nation will encourage coal as a key component of the Nation’s energy mix and will pursue federal coal fuel legislation. Additionally, the Nation will support clean coal technologies which lessen the environmental impact of coal-based electricity generation and maximize the efficient use of the Nation’s coal resources. Renewables The Nation will continue to develop a renewable energy portfolio of power generating facilities that balance coal, gas or oil-fired generation with economically viable renewable energy generation from wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass. The Nation also will evaluate the appropriateness of implementing a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard for electricity used on the Nation. If established, the Nation will strive to mitigate the impacts of increased costs of electricity for residential customers within the Nation caused by the implementation of an RPS. Nuclear The Nation currently supports the moratorium on uranium mining on tribal trust, allotted trust and fee lands on the Navajo Nation. The Nation will continue to monitor uranium technologies and secondary mineral extraction techniques as well as market conditions to assess the safety, viability and potential of these activities for the future. Transmission The Nation supports the development of new electricity transmission infrastructure that provides the Nation an opportunity to unlock the value of its vast renewable and conventional energy resources by providing transmission corridors to metropolitan centers. The Nation will establish energy corridors to manage and minimize the impact on Navajo communities resulting from future electrical, pipeline and railroad infrastructure. Large-scale projects The proposed policy promotes the majority ownership by the Nation or its entities of large-scale energy projects that utilize Navajo resources. The Nation will have the option to purchase a majority of the equity of new large-scale energy projects on the Nation, including expansions of existing facilities and developments, the policy states. Before beginning any large-scale energy development or other projects utilizing the Nation’s energy resources, the Navajo Medicine Men’s Association shall be consulted to ensure the proper ceremonies, prayers and other rituals are conducted to maintain the Navajo people’s “Great Covenant with the deities.” By doing so, the Nation shall strive to maintain a proper balance with the natural world. Navajo Nation Code describes the four sacred elements of life as “air, light/fire, water and earth/pollen” and provides that “in all their forms (they) must be respected, honored and protected for they sustain life.” Recognizing the sacredness of these elements, the Nation “desires to establish a sustainable energy economy based on the Nation’s human capital, natural resources, capital resources and the exercise of its inherent sovereign authorities,” the policy states. Resources Chair Katherine Benally asked that the policy be amended to include an incentive for host chapters of energy projects.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 03:27:29 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015