Just & Equitable Transition – Navajo

Several major coal-fired power plants that have helped ensure a reliable supply of electricity for Arizonans for decades have recently closed or are on the brink of closure. These plants include the Navajo Generating Station (NGS), the Four Corners Power Plant, the San Juan Generating Station, and the Cholla Power Plant.

While Arizonans have reaped the benefits of affordable electricity from these plants for decades, the public health and environmental impacts on the communities where these plants are located have been devastating.

The impacted Navajo, Hopi, and rural communities are also economically dependent on these plants. Their future remains uncertain as these plants shut down, as no transition plans have been developed and implemented, including when NGS was closed in November 2019.

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Over the last several months, environmental groups, NGOs representing impacted Tribal and rural communities, the Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Tribe have advocated for Arizona’s utilities to help impacted communities transition to new economic bases as these power plants close down. This work has led to several important developments:

• Additionally, recent negotiations with Arizona Public Service (APS) led to a major development: In December 2020 APS proposed a just and equitable transition (JET) package for the Navajo Nation and other impacted communities. This proposal is of national significance because it represents, “The biggest expenditure for an equitable transition so far proposed in the U.S.” It also includes provisions to develop renewable energy projects on Tribal lands and to help the Navajo Nation secure water rights and electrify homes and businesses — among other provisions. Importantly, this proposal still requires approval by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) in order to be implemented. In addition, impacted community members are advocating for Arizona’s other major electric utilities (e.g., Tuscon Eletric Power) to follow through by proposing similar ambitious JET packages of their own, as these stakeholders believe the utilities have a Corporate Responsibility to these coal-impacted communities.
• The ACC voted to approve a minimal amount of coal community transition assistance for the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, and communities in the Navajo County in Arizona Public Service’s last rate case. For the Hopi Tribe ($1 million) and Navajo County Communities ($0.5 million), provides $10 million over 3 years in assistance for the Navajo Nation, authorizes APS to spend up to an additional $2.5 million total in the electrification of buildings located in the Navajo Nation and on the and Hopi Reservation, and provides additional non-cash assistance.

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If you missed our virtual info session on Just & Equitable Transition (JET) for tribal coal-impacted communities on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, check out the recorded live stream on our Tó Nizhóní Ání Facebook page or on Google Drive. 

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Arizona Corporation Commission Town Halls

The purpose of these Town Halls is to hear from members of the community and individuals who have been or will be impacted by past or future closures of power plants in the region. For more information on the ACC Town Halls visit the ACC website here.

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For more background information on coal and just & equitable transition, visit www.empoweredtransition.org and www.navajoequitableeconomy.org. If you have any questions regarding the virtual info session email us at info@tonizhoniani.org