Ute Mountain Ute Tribe opposes Navajo power plant

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe of Colorado is joining opposition to a proposed power plant on the Navajo Nation.

Ute Chairman Manuel Heart says the $2.5 billion, coal-fired power plant will hurt the Four Corners area. The Ute reservation is located near the project site in northwestern New Mexico.

"The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe believes that all of the Four Corners communities must work together to find a way to balance economic development, energy needs, environmental protection and protection of public health," Heart said, The Durango Herald reported. "This proposed Desert Rock power plant fails to achieve the appropriate balance."

The power plant would bring jobs and revenue to the Navajo Nation. Critics, including tribal members who live near the site, say it would pollute the environment.

Get the Story:
Mountain Utes oppose Desert Rock (The Durango Herald 8/24)
Ute Tribal Council opposes Desert Rock plant (The Farmington Daily Times 8/24)

Relevant Links:
Desert Rock Clean Air Act Proposed PSD Permit - http://www.epa.gov/region09/air/permit
Desert Rock Energy Project, BIA site - http://www.desertrockenergy.com
Desert Rock Energy Project, company site - http://www.desertrockenergyproject.com
Dine Citizens Against Ruining our Environment - http://dinecare.indigenousnative.org

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