What do you think of Shellys Wish List...oops we meant Energy Policy (If it can be called that) Navajo energy policy passed by committee By Kathy Helms Gallup Independent - 10/14/2013 WINDOW ROCK — Despite being labeled President Ben Shelly’s “wish policy” or a document without teeth, the proposed Navajo Nation energy policy passed the Naa’bik’iyati’ Committee last week and could be considered by Council as early as this week. On Thursday delegates defeated a motion to table the bill, which Shelly said must be approved if Council wants him to sign off on a $4.1 million request for Navajo Transitional Energy Co. so it can move forward in its acquisition of Navajo Mine. As Mark Pelizza, from Uranium Resources Inc., observed the discussion from the audience, Delegate Lorenzo Curley said that although the document is billed as a “comprehensive energy strategy” it is incomplete because it speaks to fossil fuel, wind and solar energy but does not address uranium. “I’m wondering where uranium plays into all of this, because if I am correct, RDC (Resources and Development Committee) is courting URI. So that is clearly a viable component of the energy policy and yet it’s not mentioned in here,” he said. “I think that as is, this policy is incomplete because it does not include uranium as part of the strategy.” Delegate Charles Damon II said he was fine with the language because if they started naming specific forms of energy, they would be limiting themselves. No teeth Resources Vice Chairman Roscoe Smith, resolution sponsor, said the policy is the development of a basic concept for how the Navajo Nation would take greater responsibility for its resources. “In response to the question on uranium, right now the moratorium on uranium is recognized. But in time, in the event that should change, then that language would be open to the Council in order to make those amendments to this policy,” he said. Delegate Leonard Tsosie, who is a member of Resources, said the committee has been addressing the energy policy for some time. “I was one of those that was saying that this is just one of those feel-good languages. To me, it doesn’t have teeth. Even if it does, I think you need to be careful how we do these things.” Tsosie said the policy mentions Navajo Fundamental Law and that some of his colleagues wanted to ensure consultation with medicine people. “What does this mean when we do large-scale energy development? Who’s to say that a certain medicine man has the proper credentials to do a certain ceremony? And who is to say that if a certain medicine man did not have a certain credential, then maybe this step was not done right and that’s causing a hangup of development? The better way to approach this is let’s take all the Navajo Nation laws on energy matters and begin to put them together, rather than having a policy statement,” he said. “I don’t understand the president’s position except maybe it’s something that you could use as a resume for your re-election and say, ‘I passed the energy policy.’” Divided on uranium Tsosie said that with respect to uranium, the moratorium on uranium development has caused the jurisdiction of the Navajo Nation to be lost. “What happened? They took it to court and that’s because there are anti-Navajo judges that sit up there on federal benches, that don’t care for Navajo viewpoints. … I think if we just continue to say no, no, no, it’s going to cause the possibility of more losses of jurisdiction down the road.” There are also divisions between the Navajo people on uranium development. There are Navajos who want to make use of their allotment for the purpose of uranium development, Tsosie said. “Unless we compensate them … then who are we to tell them, ‘No you cannot make use of your own land, your own Indian allotment. That’s not in this policy. How do we handle that?” He suggested they table the policy for further review. “I agree with Mr. Tsosie. This is a position of the president and it does not really reflect reality, or our laws,” Curley said. “It’s what I consider a wish. He wants to impose his ‘wish policy’ on us.” Curley said the document states that the president supports a balanced portfolio of clean energy and fossil fuel. “If we approve this as is … you’ve got to get the money for Paragon Ranch - $4 million seed money just like we’ve given NTEC. Give us seed money for renewable energy over at Paragon Ranch. That’s what this is saying. You can’t just have it one way.” After further discussion, the resolution passed, 8-4, with amended language.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Oct 2013 23:38:00 +0000
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