Campbell: The 'truth' about Indian energy bill

FROM THE ARCHIVE

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THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2003

"A little over one year ago I wrote an op-ed piece for Indian Country Today entitled "Unlocking the Potential of Indian Tribal Energy" in which I outlined our country’s need to have greater independence from foreign sources of energy supplies and the impacts of high energy prices on the nation’s economy, on our country’s poor in general, and on Indian people in particular.

I pointed out the puzzling fact that, while many tribal lands are blessed with abundant deposits of oil and gas and other energy resources, historically the resources have been overlooked and undervalued by producers to the great detriment of Indian tribes and their members.

As I write today, none of these conditions has abated, and once again we are facing the real possibility of a natural gas crisis this winter as a result of exceptionally high prices and low inventories. So why haven’t tribes with commercially viable quantities of oil, gas and coal on their reservations played a greater role in the domestic energy market?"

Get the Story:
Campbell: The truth about the Indian energy bill (Indian Country Today 7/25)

Relevant Documents:
President Joe Shirley Jr. State of the Navajo Nation Address (June 21, 2003)

Energy Legislation Documents:
S.14 [with links to amendments] | Summary of Indian Energy Title III | Indian Energy Title III | Bush Administration Statement

Relevant Links:
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - http://energy.senate.gov
National Congress of American Indians - http://www.ncai.org
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org
Council of Energy Resource Tribes - http://www.certredearth.com