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Navajo Nation Council legislation helps build a green economy.
On July 22, 2009, the Navajo Nation Council adopted the Navajo Nation Green Economy Commission Act of 2009. The Commission’s role is to provide leadership, secure funding, identify appropriate investments and coordinate the development of a green economy.
Next, the Council adopted the Navajo Nation Green Economy Fund Act of 2009. The act ensures that the Nation, with the credibility of the commission, can more easily secure federal aid that may be available. It also establishes a mechanism to create other revenue streams such as proceeds from future utility-scale renewable energy projects.
These legislative successes required major effort over the past 2 years by the Navajo Green Economy Coalition, a group of nonprofit organizations such as Grand Canyon Trust, Sierra Club, Black Mesa Water Coalition, and One Sky New Mexico, working with the Navajo Nation Speaker’s office. When the Trust first started working to mitigate the economic impacts brought on by the closure of Peabody’s Black Mesa Mine, we never envisioned such a day would be possible. Projects such as Shonto Renewable Energy Company, Leupp Family Farms, and the Just Transition effort created a high level of credibility and helped us when the Council debated the legislation.
The Trust now serves as senior advisor to the Green Economy Commission. In this role, we recently secured an experienced Navajo grant writing and project management company, ETD Inc. They will help the Commission develop a focused, comprehensive strategy that includes prioritization of key steps, inclusion of all the key departments, programs, communities, and businesses of the Navajo Nation, as well as development of two funding proposals. This will help the Navajo Nation jump-start this vital effort, which was delayed due to its startup during times of dwindling resources. We will work with the Commission to present the strategies and proposals to key leaders with whom we have long respectful relations.
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