navajo nation
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Navajo Nation gains ground in energy sovereignty as feds deny hydro project permits
Federal authorities have denied permits for hydroelectric projects on Navajo land, marking a significant step in recognizing tribal sovereignty in energy projects.
Noel Lyn Smith and Wyatt Myskow report for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's new policy requires tribal consent for energy projects on tribal lands, leading to the denial of permits for hydroelectric projects on Navajo Nation territory.
- The Navajo Nation, along with environmental groups, opposed these projects due to concerns about water usage and impacts on cultural sites and endangered species.
- This decision reflects a growing awareness of the environmental and cultural impacts of hydropower, as well as the importance of tribal consultation in energy development.
Key quote:
“Water scarcity is a simple fact of our region … their failure to see that caused them to run headlong into the problem of aridity.”
— Taylor McKinnon, the Southwest director for the Center for Biological Diversity
Why this matters:
This development speaks to inclusive decision-making processes that respect both the environment and the rights of Indigenous communities.
LISTEN: What would a just energy transition look like for US tribes?
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Photo by Silvia Fang on Unsplash
States opposed tribes’ access to the Colorado River 70 years ago. History is repeating itself
Records shed new light on states’ vocal opposition in the 1950s to tribes claiming their share of the river.
Photo by Silvia Fang on Unsplash
States opposed tribes’ access to the Colorado River 70 years ago. History is repeating itself
Records shed new light on states’ vocal opposition in the 1950s to tribes claiming their share of the river.
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The long tail of toxic emissions on the Navajo Nation
Kendra Pinto, a community critic of the oil and gas industry, utilizes specialized cameras to document emissions in the San Juan Basin, revealing health risks from intentional flaring and venting, contributing to concerns about air quality and public health.
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Federal agency failed to monitor AZ coal mines' water use, report says
Coal mining depleted areas of a critical aquifer in the Black Mesa region of the Navajo Nation, but a federal agency didn't consider the losses environmentally damaging, researchers concluded in a new study of the aquifer in northern Arizona.
Photo by Dulcey Lima on Unsplash
How Arizona stands between tribes and their water
As it negotiates water rights with tribes, Arizona goes to unique lengths to extract concessions that limit tribes’ opportunities for growth and economic development, according to a ProPublica and High Country News investigation.
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Climate change adds questions to Supreme Court case on Navajo water
In Arizona v. Navajo Nation, tribal attorneys argue that, by not providing their nation with sufficient water, the United States has breached a trust obligation related to treaties settled in 1849 and 1868.
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