Navajo Nation: Sustainable Development Tom Yersak Summer 2008
Navajo Nation:
Sustainable Development
Tom Yersak
Summer 2008
Window Rock, AZ
Navajo Hopi Land Commission
Office
-Executive Director: Roman Bitsuie ’78
-Established by the Navajo Government in 1980’s to address development issues of the Bennett Freeze Area
-Bennett Freeze: A mandated freeze of all construction on disputed land between the
Hopi and Navajo. 30+ years
-NHLCO charged with acquiring 30,000 acres of new tribal land for the benefit of relocates.
-Mr. Bitsuie has interpreted the NHLCO’s authority to include the development these lands for the benefit of those affected by the Bennett Freeze.
Bitsi-Paragon Ranch
- Located South of Chaco Canyon, NM
- I attempted to conduct preliminary research on water rights, ROW’s, archeological impacts etc. using an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for a formerly proposed coal plant on this site.
- Several companies have submitted preliminary proposals
Other Activities
- Prof. Soboyejo’s solar lantern
Real use or educational tool?
- Conducted research for NHLC lawyer regarding broken solar cistern-septic systems
- Reader for Rehabilitation Trust Fund proposals
- Gave educational renewable energy talks at a NHLC meeting and a summer youth group meeting
- Explored issues regarding siting 4 donated solar dishes at Diné College
Bureaucratic Dysfunction
What entity should oversee sustainable energy development projects on the
Reservation?
- Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA)?
- Diné Power Authority (DPA)?
- Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office (NHLCO)?
- Local Communities?
No established framework for energy development. The economic development system is also very complex and difficult to navigate.
McCain: “The system is broken” . . . even he can understand that this is an economic disaster. . .
Examples
Desert Rock and Sithe Global
DPA (a tribal company) bypassed the tribal government and leased land to a coal plant developer for only $100,000 a year, giving up millions in royalties.
NHLCO
- Preoccupied with a 2 year long audit
- Already attempted energy development before and failed. How much is talk? Does this office really have the authority?
NTUA and Arizona Power (APS):
- Battle of jurisdiction. Boundaries are vague and can vary street to street.
- NTUA has not attempted to implement net-metering on the reservation’s grid.
