Tó Nizhóní Ání raises concerns about gas expansion in the Four Corners Region at the Arizona Corporation Commission
August 25, 2025
Contact
- Eleanor Smith, eleanor@tonizhoniani.org
- Nicole Horseherder, nicole@tonizhoniani.org
Shiprock, NM – On Monday, August 25, 2025, Tó Nizhóní Ání (TNA) submitted comments to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) Docket No. G-00000 A-25-0029 to raise concerns and issues about the impacts of continuing gas and gas expansion on communities and members in the Four Corners Region. The concerns include: Project Transparency, Delays in Just Transition for rural and low-income communities, and Financial Liability and Lack of Regulation.
- Project Transparency
The proposed hydrogen and/or liquid natural gas pipeline in development by Tallgrass Energy and their subsidiary, Greenview Logistics, LLC, that would cross through 13 Navajo chapter communities in over 200 miles of pipeline that was originally planned to transport pure hydrogen, a highly volatile and explosive element and now the developers are apparently pivoting to liquid natural gas (LNG) and/or a mixture of pure hydrogen and LNG, which is a dangerously explosive mixture.
We support our Diné impacted community members as they have made their questions and concerns known as follows in a recent letter to the Navajo Nation Resources and Development Committee:
“We have learned—after our review of documents filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission1 and publication of a recent article by Capital & Main2—that GreenView has decided to abandon its plans to build a hydrogen pipeline through the Navajo Nation and now seeks to build a natural gas pipeline instead. We are extremely concerned that GreenView has failed to communicate this major development to affected community members. Indeed, without having engaged in any consultation with affected communities, GreenView appears to be soliciting letters of support for its new project from industry groups, businesses, and elected officials in Arizona and New Mexico.3 We respectfully request information about the following questions and concerns from the developers:
- Is GreenView, in fact, abandoning its proposal to construct a hydrogen pipeline through the Navajo Nation and instead pursuing plans to build a natural gas pipeline? Does GreenView plan to transport a natural gas-hydrogen blend through the pipeline at some point in the future?
- Would the route of this proposed new pipeline remain the same as the route proposed for the hydrogen pipeline?
- Does GreenView wish to construct an entirely new pipeline or use an existing pipeline to transport natural gas?
Please be reminded that as Indigenous people on an Indian reservation, we have an internationally recognized right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent with respect to any activity that affects our lands, territories, or resources.”
- Delays in Just Energy Transition
As coal plants are retiring, the use of Navajo water should become available for more sustainable economic and energy development. This cannot happen if monopoly utilities such as APS continue to lead developers and companies to continue fossil fuel development. In this case, the proposal is continued fossil gas and that requires continued use of Tribal water sources. This comes at a time when the Navajo Nation is in a water crisis and still trying to settle water rights in the state of Arizona, in which APS is an opposing party in the settlement. In addition, APS has recently rolled back its commitment to invest in renewable energy, and this includes development on Tribal Lands where communities are desperately trying to protect potable water sources and need an alternative to energy projects that are water intensive.
- Financial Liabilities for the Navajo Nation
The Four Corners Power Plant was built in 1966. The nearly 60-year-old plant was supposed to retire in 2030; however, the new proposal is that it will continue to run to 2038. Continued operation means continued increasing costs for the company in which NTEC, a tribal enterprise, is a part owner. As more of the operations are transferred to NTEC, the liability is also transferred and will eventually be realized by tribal communities and members.
- Lack of Regulation
NTEC is not regulated by a commission such as the ACC in Arizona and PRC in New Mexico. There isn’t a formal process in which Tribal members can participate in rate cases, energy planning and so forth. Likewise, if there are complaints or grievances, there is no formal body to hear them.
About Tó Nizhóní Ání
Tó Nizhóní Ání (Sacred Water Speaks) is a 501(c)3 non-profit Diné-led environmental organization established in 2001, formed in the spirit of our Diné elders who fought to protect Black Mesa from the Peabody Coal Mining’s use of the pristine Navajo water groundwater to slurry coal, Black Mesa’s only source of potable water. Today, our organization continues to protect our Diné water, lands, air, and health, while leading community transition away from fossil fuels.
