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Study: Energy on tribal lands untapped

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Thursday, 25 March 2010

Study: Energy on tribal lands untapped Thom Gabrukiewicz • This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it March 24, 2010 Tribal lands hold great promise for the future of renewable energy sources, which in turn would help Native Americans lift themselves from crushing poverty, a report suggests. The New Energy Future in Indian Country details case studies of wind, solar, geothermal and biomass production. The study, released Tuesday, also looks at energy efficiency and weatherization efforts that further would help tribes. "We've been very excited over the last few years of the opportunities that exist on tribal lands to deal with the economic situations tribes are facing in a way that helps the country overall," said Steve Torbit, director of National Wildlife Federation's Rocky Mountain Regional Center and Tribal Lands Conservation Program. "And that would be renewable energy." There are 95 million acres of land in the U.S. under tribal management. The nine South Dakota tribes manage more than 4.95 million acres. South Dakota counties that contain Indian reservations rank among the poorest in the U.S. year after year. However, potential for wind development is high on those lands. The problem, leaders say, is sharing in the federal tax credits companies get to pay for wind projects. As sovereign nations, tribes cannot get the breaks, although federal legislation has been discussed that would change that. "We want to be owners and have the American dream like everybody else," said Monique LaChappa, chairwoman of the Campo Kumeyaay Nation in Southern California, which built the first wind farm on tribal land. Another drawback: getting renewable energy off the reservation. Much of the nation's tribal lands are in remote locations. But South Dakota's tribes are better suited than most to get future wind development to market, said Bob Gough, secretary of the Intertribal Council On Utility Policy. He sees a system where wind farms on tribal lands would help feed a wind-and-hydroelectric system. Five of the nine Indian reservations in South Dakota straddle the Missouri River, some near where dams produce hydroelectric power for the Western Area Power Administration. Fifty-three percent of South Dakota's electric needs are met by hydroelectric power. "The potential is tremendous," Gough said. "Those dams could provide a battery system that allow wind and hydro to work together and provide a renewable energy dynamo, if you will." The WAPA completed its wind/hydro integration feasibility study last June. It calls for a demonstration project along the river. That project is in the works. The study awaits a final signature, said Mike Radecki, energy services specialist with the WAPA. "That's one of the things that has not been accomplished yet, and remains a barrier until they do," Gough said. The study was a collaboration of the National Tribal Environmental Council, Native American Rights Fund, Intertribal Council On Utility Policy and the National Wildlife Federation. "Native people are not only aware of climate change, but offer solutions to lessen the impacts of global warming and help restore the balance of creation," said Pat Spears, co-founder and president, Intertribal Council On Utility Policy. "Renewable energy from the earth, the sun and the wind can provide energy and jobs for our communities and green the federal transmission grid that interconnects us all." http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100324/NEWS/3240307/1001/news

 

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