"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is set to release new emission regulations for nitrogen oxides, a haze-forming pollutant, at the Navajo Generating Station this year.

The plant has installed $45 million in new controls for nitrogen oxides. But the EPA favors a different control system that could cost up to $1.2 billion to install and require millions of dollars in additional expenses every year to operate.

The generating station, whose ownership includes Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service, faces other future uncertainties, including the renewal of land and water leases. If they're required to make a huge investment in pollution controls, the owners could simply choose to close the plant. The consequences would hurt all of us.

Recently, the CAP had the honor of appearing before a joint meeting of the Water and Power and the Indian and Alaska Native Affairs subcommittees of the U.S. House's Natural Resources Committee.

Along with other representatives from Arizona and the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and Gila River Indian Community, we presented information about the importance of the Navajo Generating Station to our region and to the CAP in particular.

If the generating station closes, it will significantly increase the cost of energy for the Colorado River water we deliver."

Get the Story:
Pamela Pickard: Navajo Generating Station key to state water supply (The Arizona Republic 6/29)

Committee Notice:
Joint Subcommittee Oversight Hearing on "Protecting Long-Term Tribal Energy Jobs and Keeping Arizona Water and Power Costs Affordable: The Current and Future Role of the Navajo Generating Station" (May 24, 2011)

Related Stories:
Tribal leaders worried about future of Navajo Nation plant (5/25)
Witness list for House hearing on Navajo Nation coal plant (5/23)
Column: Hearing looks at jobs and energy in Indian Country (5/20)
House Natural Resources hearing for Navajo power plant (5/16)