NAVAJO COUNCIL CONTINUES DEBATING PROPOSED ENERGY POLICY
DELEGATE DWIGHT WITHERSPOON/DELEGATE CHARLES DAMON II
That requirement that 20 percent be renewable by 2030.
DELEGATE ROSCOE SMITH
Portion of Energy Policy talks to sustainability.
DIVISION OF NATURAL RESOURCES FRED WHTITE
renewable energy is very expensive, very costly. the goal of Navajo Nation is provide energy at lowest cost possible.
DELEGATE DWIGHT WITHERSPOON
No one asked Mr. White question so he shouldn’t be speaking.
DIVISION OF NATURAL RESOURCES FRED WHITE
Hydroelectric and then coal and then renewable is how ranked by costs. So be careful. Renewable is market driven. If we set high limit like 20 percent that wud be very hard to do that. We wud have to make sure go into planning process and design equitable percentage.
If lok at renewable energy portfolio.
DELEGATE WITHERSPOON
Rules say that Delegate may give time to another delegate.
SPEAKER NAIZE
I asked Mr. Smith and he went to his agent.
DELEGATE WITHERSPOON
I think you are being biased and you are breaking our rules. I recognized Delegate Smith and he yielded to another agent.
DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
As to this amendment, it is true that renewable expensive. I use power but it comes off power line. I specifically do not use renewables. One cuz expensive, don’t last long, when no sun, in dark. And noticed constitutents saying no solar, get us power lines. And becuae of complications with solar panels. Good for exercise. If someone want to steal wood pile then light comes on.
My point is, and US experienced, energy credits expired. Only reason companies got into was solar projects. For money and not hearts into it. Way to make money and once credits went away and no promotion then went away. Make as side thing. Shud have home AC and DC wired, especially elders, when no finances then use solar.
Have feel good language and doesn’t mean anything to me. No teeth in it. But more specifics: all homes made with DC and AC power. Then use tax incentives and grants to promote. This says “continue to develop” and in 20 yrs we will promoting coal and NGS and then renewables put to side.
VOTE ON WITHERSPOON AMEMDMENT FOR 20 PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
4 in favor, 10 opposed
