Federal energy officials took the unusual step of denying permits to several pumped hydropower projects proposed on the Navajo Nation, citing a new policy that gives tribes a greater voice in projects on their lands.

When Adrian Herder saw the plans for a hydropower project on the Navajo Nation, he was shocked by the “outrageous” amounts of water the project would reportedly use.

Navajo and Hopi leaders addressed the need to move away from economic dependence on coal, but specific proposals on how to get there remain elusive.

For the fifth year, a Navajo Nation program is helping reservation residents stay warm through by distributing coal for free.