We Want Renewable Energy & Green Jobs Too: Native American Groups Tell Obama
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY 
on 01. 7.09
Citing the disproportionate burden Native American populations will bear because of climate change, and have borne because fossil fuel energy development (in particular uranium mining), a coalition of Native groups, including Honor the Earth, the Intertribal Council on Utility Policy, the Indigenous Environmental Network, and the International Indian Treaty Council, is asking the incoming Obama administration to give greater support to tribally owned and operated renewable energy projects, as well as green job programs. Here’s why:
Tribal Lands Have Great Renewable Energy Potential
The groups pointed out the energy potential of tribal lands, asserting that renewable energy projects located there could generate an estimated 535 billion kWh/year of electricity from wind power and 17,000 billion kWh/year from solar power. Furthermore, investing in renewable energy would generate more jobs per dollar invested than continued investment in fossil fuels.
Native Nations Have Higher Unemployment, Poverty Rates
On the green job front, the groups say that even though Native Nations have “borne the brunt of destructive energy development that has reaped massive profits for some,” the unemployment rate on reservations is more than twice the national rate, poverty rates are twice national levels, and reservation homes without electricity are ten times the national rate. Furthermore, in the continental US 11% of Indian homes lack complete plumbing, while in Alaska this rises to 33%.
Because of this there is great potential to put people to work improving building energy efficiency, improving local energy infrastructure and building renewable energy projects.
The Obama Economic Stimulus Plan that incorporates a green economy and green jobs portfolio must include provisions for access to these resources by our Native Nations, our tribal education and training institutions, and Native organizations and communities.
Read the full policy recommendations: Energy Justice in Native America and the Next Administration
via: Indian Country Today
photo: Steven via flickr
Renewable Energy, Native Americans
Kansas’ Kickapoo Nation Embraces Renewable Energy, Set Sights on Energy Independence
Shoshone Nation Drills Down on Geothermal Power, 100 MW Plant Planned
Pine Ridge Reservation Radio Station KILI-FM Brings Its Renewable Energy Vision to Life
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Yes, There is Such a Thing as an Optimistic, Green American: Be One!
- Focus on Focus Earth: Snake Invaders
- 5 Reuses for Altoid Tins
- Focus Earth: June 13, 2009: Everglades Nevermore and Snake Invaders
- Cooking on a Budget: Use Everything
- The Happiest, Greenest Place on Earth—Seriously!
Are they going to pay taxes for the income from those green jobs and renewable power plants?
Native Nations have an opportunity to invest the vast casino revenues to create new green energy industries! Wind farms and solar power plants on every reservation.
We must demand that the Obama administration support a carbon tax onto the utilities as a source of revenue to fund energy efficiency/conservation and renewable energy projects. Also, all of the existing direct and indirect subsidies to the nuclear and fossil fuels industries must be phased out as quickly as possible. We must reject all the Wall Street carbon trading schemes. Solutions strategies for the climate crisis must be as efficient as possible, we can not afford to risk our future...
"Citing the disproportionate burden Native American populations will bear because of climate change"
FAIL. They will suffer the same as anybody else.
Astonishing, discouraging, and sadly not surprising to see the racist and uninformed remarks generated from within the ranks of so-called sustainability and green advocates. I don't have time to get into a point by point response to the racist remarks being posted here, but I wish you guys would think before lashing out, and dare I suggest it?: read some history and current perspectives on relations between Native Nations and their colonial neighbors.
You may not realize it, but the very existence of treaties is an acknowledgment of sovereign status: only two sovereign states can legally create a treaty between them.And in many cases, the funds from the tribal casinos go to pay for the sorts of very basic public services enjoyed "automatically" by off-reservation communities....