Greetings Relatives/Frens/Humans, It appears that Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, is Navajo Transitional Energy Company Day. NTEC had a 7 am special meeting with the Navajo Nation Council’s Resources & Development Committee today, 12.6.21. (See earlier Post)

And now, the Council’s Budget & Finance Committee called a Work Session for NTEC to present their Solar/Renewal Projects…LOL LOL LOL LOL What Solar & Renewal Projects? From the BFC agenda, it appears that NTEC is working with Navajo Power, which is owned & operated by Clara Pratt, a former executive staff assistant for former Prez Begaye & Vice Prez Jonathan Nez.

Pratt, who owns & operates Navajo Power, was present when Nez & Vice Prez Lizer unveiled their proclamation, which stated that through the Diné teaching of “T’áá hwó’ ajít’éego” and for the many who have called upon our Nation’s leaders to transition away from our overdependence on fossil fuels, the Navajo Nation will strive for a balanced energy portfolio and will pursue and prioritize clean renewable energy development for the long-term benefit of the Navajo People and our communities.

During Nez & Lizer press conference. Nez introduced Pratt and announced that Navajo Power was selected to work on the proposed Paragon-Bisti Energy Renewable project, which was projected to deliver 2,100 megawatts of photovoltaic power at the Paragon-Bisti Energy Renewable Ranch, a 22,000-acre ranch parcel south of Farmington, N.M. According to study, if the proposed solar farm project is completely constructed, it would contain about 9 million photovoltaic solar panels and use 200 square feet of glass.

The project’s location was made possible after the land formerly owned by the Bureau of Land Management near the Bisti Wilderness was acquired by and later conveyed to the Navajo Nation in the late 1980s under the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974. The farm project included a significant number of jobs, both short- and long-term. That was in 2015. I googled the Paragon-Bisti Energy Renewable Project and nothing new popped up about the project.

I wonder if NTEC bid out its Solar/Newnewable Projects before selecting Navajo Power because Native Renewables, an Indigenous Flagstaff-based nonprofit, has a track record on the Navajo Nation of installing and wiring Navajo homes to a solar energy system. Native Renewables applies for grants to enable it to do installations free of cost.

Actually, Native Renewables should also have a Native Renewables Day with the BFC & RDC because they have a TRACK RECORD of installing & wiring Navajo homes on their own, unlike NTEC, Navajo Power, and Navajo Tribal Utility Authority.

Come on RDC & BFC, We are still in a Pandemic. Navajo already has HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT on the rez & so how can People afford to pay their NTUA utility bill, and the Basic Needs of their families, who include babies, children, teens, students, elders. SUPPORT Native Renewables to Install Solar to Reduce Utility Bills & Return the Navajo People to True Energy Independence, instead of solely depending on NTUA because there is no other choice for Utility Service in a majority of the Navajo Nation. Native Renewables was awarded a $30 million CARES contract to do just that. BUT Prez Nez & VP Lizer LINE ITEM VETOED the $30M, which was then given to NTUA, which then gave it back to Navajo Nation because NTUA does not have the EXPERIENCE, Experienced WORKERS who are also Navajo & speak Navajo Solar Language, or Solar Equipment for Homes.

According to the BFC proposed agenda, NTEC is having Photosol US also make a Report. Photosol US stated on its website that it is focused on developing clean energy renewable projects and specializes in utility-scale solar photovoltaics power plants connected to regulated and unregulated wholesale energy markets, large battery energy storage systems, and distributed solar gardens.

PROPOSED AGENDA OF THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
OF THE NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL, December 6, 2021, Work Session
9 a.m. Via Teleconference: 669 900-6833, Zoom meeting ID: 232 628 2566, Passcode: 86515
Presiding: Jamie Henio, Chairperson
Raymond Smith, Jr., Vice Chairperson
Place: Via Teleconference, Window Rock, Navajo Nation
Members Present:
_ Elmer P. Begay _ Jamie Henio
Nathaniel Brown _ Raymond Smith, Jr.
Amber K. Crotty _ _ Jimmy Yellowhair

1. Call the Work Session to Order; the Roll Call; the Invocation;
2. Recognize Guests and Visiting Officials
3. Review and Adopt the Agenda
   M: S: Vote: Yeas: Nays
4. Overview of Presentations – Steve Yazzie, Director, Power Generation & Energy Management, NTEC
   a. Solar/Renewable Projects on the Navajo Nation, A Taxation Challenge.
   • Introduction & solar background information – Steve Yazzie, Director of Power & Energy Generation NTEC
   • Current sales tax exemptions & solar capacity surrounding the Navajo Nation – Clara Pratt, Founder and Partner Navajo Power
   • Renewable energy project comparison of on/off Navajo Nation – Josh Case, CEO Photosol US
   • Solar project proposals & tax comparison – Josh Case, CEO Photosol US
   • ·Recommended solutions and next steps – Clara Pratt, Founder and Partner Navajo Power
   b. Recommendation(s)/assignment(s)/timeframe
   M: S: Vote: Yeas: Nays
5. Close of the Work Session; Written Announcements; Adjournment
   M: S: Vote: Yeas: Nays
   Next Regular Meeting: December 7, 2021
   THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. The public is advised that the Navajo Nation Council Agenda and the Agendas of the Standing Committees are not final until adopted by a majority
   vote of the Navajo Nation Council or the Standing Committee at a Navajo Nation Council or a Standing Committee meeting pursuant to 2 N.N.C. §§163 and 183, Navajo Nation Council Rule of Order