Navajo Council Resources & Development Committee continues debating $4.1 million for Navajo Transitional Energy Company. Prime Sponsor is Delegate LoRenzo Bates and co-sponsor is RDC Vice Chairperson Roscoe Smith.
DELEGATE LORENZO BATES
Energy Policy would be required to determine how tribe would also use coal from BHP coal mine after tribe purchases.
Coal would no longer be dirty word in moving forward but before that happens then tribe needs to go down that path of not just alternative energy but using resources/coal.
RDC MEMBER LEONARD TSOSIE
Worried about losing sight over this.
Closing date of Oct. 27 and lot of activity around Oct. 30 so time for Office of Speaker to bring Council together and have President present his position. Feel that would show world how remain untified.
There was unity and it showed with Council’s unanimous vote to buy coal mine.
But if controversy, like what happened over weekend where prez skeptical. If need be, let’s table and work towards work session and get all info to Delegates and convene immediately.
There are things also that are confidential. With work session could address confidentiality.
RDC MEMBER WALTER PHELPS
Looking at section 6,page 4: Interpret that with approval of $4 million which wud be put inot escorw, the Council would approve revoling credit of $36 m and NTEC apply for $36 million. If this minimum amount, then is true amount for NTEC $50 m.
So twisting arm of Investment Committee before they even discuss and approve.
DELEGATE BATES
I don’t believe Investment Committee directed to do that. Intent is under worst case scenario. Go back to waht referenced earlier. Mechanisms not in palce for Investment Committee to invest without know how NTEC would pay back.
Frist deadline is take ownershp, fuel agreement and those are mechanisms for NTEC to go back to Investment Committee to consider loan. Pay off $85 million or pay off any other needed dollars.
Like Tsosie said, federal and state dollars were to come back to tribe but with NTEC carrying note then NTEC operate on cash flow and work sessin would outline all of what NTEC presented to iNVESTMENT Committee.
PREZ SHELLY’S ATTORNEY HEATHER CLAW
We’re working on contacting President. He’s talking with scheduler. we can have presidential representatives here.
RDC CHAIRPERSON KATHERINE BENALLY
Do you want representative?
RDC MEMBER TSOSIE
We want President Shelly. The next stop for the $4.1 million for NTEC legislation is Budget and Finance Committee. Perhaps, RDC could have joint committee meeting with B&F as replacement for work session.
RDC CHAIRPERSON BENALLY
VOTE ON $4.1 MILLION FOR NTEC AND HAVING IT ALSO AS A REPOTT TO NAA’BIKI’YATI COMMITTEE.
5 in favor, 0 opposed at 2:14 pm
DELEGATE BATES IN SEPARATE INTERVIEW AFTER VOTE
The Committee’s vote was to support $4.1 million for NTEC and for Naa’biki’yati Committee to hear as report (during its Oct. 10 meeting) but that is up Speaker Naize to add it as a report to Naabi which would replace Work Session.
THE NEXT STOP FOR THE $4.1 MILLION IS BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, THEN NAABI AND FINALLY COUNCIL. THE B&F IS NOT SCHEDULED TO MEET THIS WEEK. NAABI IS SCHEDULED TO MEET ON OCT. 10 AND THE $4.1 MILLION LEGISLATION CANNOT BE PLACED ON ITS AGENDA UNTIL B&f TAKES ACTION ON IT. BUT THE $4.1 MILLION CAN BE HEARD AS A REPORT ON OCT. 10.
