Breakdown in Navajo Generating Station Acquisition Does Not Curb Town Hall Meeting
By Noel Lyn Smith
March 12, 2019 - Community members from chapters located near the Kayenta Mine in northeast Arizona voiced their opinions Friday about a proposal by the Navajo Transitional Energy Company to take over the mine and the Navajo Generating Station.
Despite acquisition talks halting last month between NTEC and Salt River Project, the power plant's majority owner, the Navajo Nation Council continues to collect input about the proposal from tribal government and non-government entities.
Community members listen to comments on Friday during the town hall meeting at the Hardrock Chapter house in Hardrock, Ariz.
Photo by Noel Lyn Smith, The Daily Times
NTEC had been in discussion with SRP to assume ownership of NGS but talks broke down on Feb. 27 over long-term liabilities, including clean-up for the coal-fired power plant located near Page, Arizona.
SRP stated in a Feb. 28 press release that NTEC was unable to provide "required assurances" sought by the plant's four utility owners and will move forward with plans to close the plant in December.
NTEC, a tribal enterprise, has repeatedly stated it remains open to resuming negotiations.
Members of the public sign up to give comments during the town hall meeting on Friday at the Hardrock Chapter house in Hardrock, Ariz.
Photo by Noel Lyn Smith, The Daily Times
The Office of the Speaker organized the town hall meeting at the Hardrock Chapter house in addition to one in Kayenta, Arizona on Sunday. Work sessions for the tribal council are also scheduled Monday through Wednesday to hear reports by tribal departments and divisions about the acquisition.
Speaker Seth Damon and delegates Jimmy Yellowhair, Elmer Begay, Kee Allen Begay Jr., Nelson BeGaye and Rick Nez listened to comments in favor of — and against — the takeover.
Proponents say employment will remain in place at NGS and Kayenta Mine, the Peabody Energy-owned surface mine on Black Mesa that supplies coal to the plant.
Opposing comments included questions about the viability of a coal-fired power plant when federal regulation calls for reducing carbon emissions.
Marie Gladue, a Big Mountain, Arizona resident, called on the delegates to let the mining operation end because the area and its residents have sacrificed enough to supply coal for the plant to produce energy for cities in the Southwest.
"When we talk about NTEC, NGS (and) Peabody coal, we're talking about protecting what we have as far as the land because we can't eat dollar bills," Gladue said.
Percy Deal, a Big Mountain resident and former council delegate, questioned why the town hall meeting was taking place when dialogue between SRP and NTEC has ceased and SRP continues the decommissioning plan.
"The negotiation is over. It's done. It's over. There's no more meeting. …Don't give false hope to anybody," Deal said.
Curtis Yazzie is a dozer operator for the mine, where he has worked for eight years.
Growing up on Black Mesa, Yazzie used to pretend he was a miner. His income from the mine supports his family, including a son in college and two young daughters.
Yazzie said his family does not want to move from the area if the mine closes.
Kayenta Mine employee Nathan Gray, center, provides comments that favor continuing the coal mining operation on Black Mesa at the town hall meeting on Friday at the Hardrock Chapter house in Hardrock, Ariz.
Photo by Noel Lyn Smith, The Daily Times
"I say we give it a chance," he said of the acquisition.
Hardrock resident Bobby Begay will mark 40 years of employment at the mine this year. He said he wants to retire from the operation one day.
"I stand for keeping the mine going," Begay said.
The youngest person to speak was nine-year-old Levi Blackhat, who told the delegates there are ways to produce energy by using solar and wind.
"We need good energy," Blackhat said.
The room where the meeting took place remained full throughout the morning and into the afternoon. By 2 p.m., 47 people had provided comments to the tribal lawmakers.
The main meeting room inside the Hardrock Chapter house remained full during the town hall meeting on Friday.
Photo by Noel Lyn Smith, The Daily Times
Bill Supports NTEC Action
Legislation to support NTEC's independent takeover of the plant and mine was introduced on March 7.
The bill also calls for supporting a statement of policy by the tribe to refuse any financial guarantees, waivers or release of claims to the plant's owners or to NTEC for the acquisition.
Delegate Rick Nez, who represents Nenahnezad, Newcomb, San Juan, Tiis Tsoh Sikaad, Tsé Daa K'aan and Upper Fruitland chapters, is sponsoring the bill.
NTEC stated support for the measure on Friday in a statement to The Daily Times.
"We hope that the council recognizes that Navajo ownership of NGS will lead the Navajo Nation into a new frontier of economic opportunities from energy development," the company stated.