US southwestern tribes seek UN support as green energy project advances on their lands
Tribes in southwestern Arizona are reaching out to the United Nations for assistance after a U.S. court allowed a major green energy project to proceed through Indigenous lands.
Taylar Dawn Stagner reports for Grist.
In short:
- A U.S. judge denied Indigenous nations' plea to halt a $10 billion wind-transmission line under the name of SunZia which would affect tribal lands in Arizona.
- Despite supporting green energy, the tribes criticize the lack of due process and community involvement from Pattern Energy, the Canadian-owned parent company of the project.
- Pattern Energy claims the project is the largest in U.S. history, aiming to power millions across multiple states by 2026.
Key quote:
“They are doing the same thing as fossil fuel. It’s just more trendy.”
— Andrea Carmen, member of the Yaqui tribe.
Why this matters:
Many lands in the Southwest that are proposed for renewable energy projects, like solar and wind farms, belong to Native American tribes. The development of large-scale renewable energy projects on these lands can lead to the destruction or desecration of sacred sites, burial grounds, and other culturally important locations and violate the right to self-determination of these communities.
LISTEN: What would a just energy transition look like for US tribes?
