The New Energy Future in Indian Country
- Aileo Weinmann
- Mar 23, 2010
Indian Tribes are disproportionately bearing the brunt of climate change. But the huge potential on tribal lands to generate clean energy from renewable resources presents tribes with the opportunity to be a significant part of the solution through climate policy that creates green jobs and protects natural resources.
The New Energy Future in Indian Country: Confronting Climate Change, Creating Jobs, and Conserving Nature provides an overview of the possibilities for renewable energy in Indian Country and detailing case studies of wind, solar, geothermal and biomass production, as well as energy efficiency/weatherization. The report was released by the National Wildlife Federation in collaboration with National Tribal Environmental Council, Native American Rights Fund, and Intertribal Council On Utility Policy.
"With 95 million acres of land under their management and centuries of experience conserving the natural world, Indian tribes can play a significant role in protecting natural resources from climate change and coping with a warmer world,” said Steve Torbit, director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Rocky Mountain Regional Center and Tribal Lands Conservation Program. “With our partners, we developed this report to showcase the tremendous opportunities tribes have to implement renewable energy, energy efficiency, and participate in the green economy, while protecting their natural resource heritage."
The report details:
- The vast opportunities for renewable energy production and case studies where clean energy is already flowing in Indian Country
- Maps of energy potential in wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass
- How weatherization can reduce energy costs for Tribal households
- Green jobs in Indian Country and opportunities for clean energy investments
- Tribal principles for climate legislation
The New Energy Future in Indian Country
Tribal lands are rich in solar, wind, and other energy resources, and, if utilized responsibly, have the potential to fulfill our domestic energy needs while providing jobs and revenue for impoverished communities.
