What is the Black Mesa Pumped Storage Project?
The Black Mesa Pumped Storage Project (BMPSP) is a pumped storage hydropower project proposed by Nature & People First. This energy development company wants to build three “Pumped Storage” energy projects along the northeastern edge of Black Mesa which would require 450,000 acre-feet of Navajo water. See the linked maps below for each project site.
What is a Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) project?
Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is a type of hydroelectric energy storage. It is a configuration of two water reservoirs at different elevations that can generate power as water moves down from one reservoir to the other (discharge), passing through a turbine. The system also requires power as it pumps water back into the upper reservoir (recharge). These pumped storage projects would pump water uphill to newly constructed reservoirs atop Black Mesa when electricity prices are low and generate electricity and revenue from return flows to reservoirs below the mesa when prices are higher.
Our Concerns:
- Dangerous use of Navajo water
- The water source is not identified
- Water evaporation
- Lack of community consultation/consent
- Land and wildlife impacts
Land & Wildlife Impacts:
- Aquifers and spring productivity due to overdraft of aquifers
- Traditional land uses
- Endangered Mexican Spotted Owl habitats
- Land stability due to overdraft of aquifers
- Endangered plant species like the Navajo Sedge relies on healthy springs
- Endangered Colorado Pikeminnow fish species rely on health and productive rivers
What does 450,000 acre-feet (AF) look like?
Wheatfields Lake, Wheatfields, AZ.
Photo by Wheatfield Lakeside Store
- Nearly 147 billion gallons
- Over 2 billion 55-gallon barrels
- 100x Wheat Fields Lake (4,500 AF)
- More than Nevada’s Colorado River allocation (300,000 AF)
- 3x the total coal industry water withdrawals from 1965 to 2018 from the Black Mesa area (154,800 AF)
Nature & People First has already applied for preliminary permits for the three projects from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The preliminary permits, if approved, will not allow construction but will allow Nature & People First to begin surveys, studies, and other planning.
Nature & People First is asking for these federal permits before consulting with or obtaining the consent of impacted communities on and near Black Mesa. The Navajo Nation Department of Justice filed a motion with FERC opposing the project.
Chapter Resolutions Opposing the BMPSP
- Dził Yíjiin Regional Council
- Hardrock Chapter
- Chinle Agency Grazing Committee
- Pinon Chapter
- Whippoorwill Chapter
- Rough Rock Chapter
- Black Mesa/Kits’iili Chapter
- Kayenta Chapter
- Forest Lake Chapter
- District 4 Grazing Committee
- Tolani Lake Chapter
- LaChee Chapter
- Dennehotso Chapter
- Navajo Mountain Chapter (Meeting Minutes)
- Bodaway/Gap Chapter
- Coppermine Chapter
- Tsidi To’ii (Birdsprings) Chapter
- Western Agency Grazing Committee
- Leupp Chapter
How Can You Help?
Join us if we are presenting in your community or talk to your Chapter House and ask your officials to support our resolution to protect Navajo water (see the Documents listed below). Talk with your Council Delegate about the impacts of this proposed energy project. For more information, email info@tonizhoniani.org and ask for our campaign lead, Adrian.
Documents
- Chapter Resolution (Template)
- #NoBMPSP Fact Sheet
- Presentation (PDF)
- Maps
In The News:
Bloomberg Law
Tó Nizhóní Ání
Cronkite News
The Guardian
KSJD
EcoFlight
KSJD
KNAU
Navajo Times
Center for Biological Diversity
Source:
- Application for Preliminary Permits, Nature & People First
- Water Resource Development Strategy for the Navajo Nation, NNDWR Motion to Intervene of the Navajo Nation, NNDOJ
- Groundwater, Surface-Water, and Water-Chemistry Data, Black Mesa Area, Northeastern Arizona—2016–2018, USGS
#NoBMPSP | #ProtectNavajoWater | #ProtectBlackMesa | #NoFalseSolutions
