Green commission still awaiting funding
By Erny Zah
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK, April 21, 2011
The commission was created to find grants and funding to help create a viable green economy on the Navajo Nation, but as of now, it has no office, director and few of the amenities provided to most Navajo Nation programs.
"We're not getting paid to do this work," said Anna Rondon, chair of the commission, adding that commission members are nevertheless trying to fulfill their mission.
The commission was slated to give the Navajo Nation Council an oral report Monday, but the Council lost a quorum before Rondon could make the presentation, which included a request for $212,769 in funding.
The funding would pay for a director, office specialist, consultants and travel. In addition, the commission's report outlines some goals for educating Navajo people about a green economy, conducting feasibility studies for renewable energy projects, and developing requirements for energy efficient buildings.
Though the commission hasn't been funded, Rondon said the group has been working to bring some projects to the Navajo Nation, and hopes to join the Clinton Global Initiative.
CGI is a clearinghouse that helps connect donors with projects in need of funding, rather than implementing projects itself. Rondon said CGI will be sending a letter of invitation and will hopefully send representatives to visit in late summer or early fall.
"They are just waiting for a letting of invitation," Rondon said, adding that Wahleah John, vice chair of the Green Commission, is coordinating the visit with the speaker's office. John wasn't available for comment.
However, membership in CGI is not free, according to its Web site. Member groups pay an annual fee of $20,000.
Rondon hopes by then the commission will have some funding from the Navajo Nation.
Another requirement for CGI membership is to have projects that are ready for development. One project the commission is thinking of showcasing is a small solar farm in the Black Mesa area.
According to the energy plan President Ben Shelly presented when he testified before the congressional Subcommittee on Indian and Alaskan Native Affairs, Black Mesa has the potential for a 200-megawatt solar farm.
Another plan is to organize distribution for wool and meat raised on the reservation. Rondon said the commission also wants to look at renovating abandoned buildings on the reservation because reusing existing resources is a key to achieving a green economy.
She said flea markets on the reservation are an example of a green economy because they are reselling items and not discarding them as waste.
"They are recycling," Rondon said.
She added that the commission members have taken part in talks about Shelly's proposed energy policy.
Rondon said the commission understands that nonrenewable energy plays a role on the Navajo Nation, but the Navajo Nation needs to start using some of the royalties from coal, oil and gas to invest in renewable energy projects.
"We want to transition away from coal, oil and gas," she said. "Coal is going to be gone one day, oil and gas are going to be gone one day, so we need to plan."
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