FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT


Thursday, May 01, 2008 Deswood Tome
202-682-7390 or 202-607-5507 (wireless)




Diné Power Authority Outlines Projects at
Senate Hearing on Indian Energy


WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs heard testimony today on Indian Energy Development at an oversight hearing.


“Diné Power Authority is the Navajo Nation entity responsible for utility-scale power generation and transmission development on Navajo lands,” said Steve Begay, general manager for DPA.


The Senate Committee held the hearing to hear from tribes to focus on Title V of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and on the implementation of the act. The Navajo Nation used the forum today to list the various projects and update the Committee on needs for more energy development.


“Our first major project is the Navajo Transmission project,” said Begay, referring to a 469 mile high voltage transmission line connecting the generation-rich Four Corners region of the desert southwest. “This permitted project is the only high-voltage system of its size and length that is ready for construction in the United States today.”


Begay was one of four tribal representatives who was invited to testify before the Committee.


“Our second major project is the Desert Rock Energy project, a $3.4 billion mine-mouth, coal-fired power plant that would generate up to 1,500 megawatt located on the Navajo Nation,” said Begay. “Desert Rock would have the lowest regulated emissions of any pulverized coal-fired plant in the United States.”


Begay emphasized the revenue that the proposed energy plant would bring to the Navajo Nation. At $50 million per year for the first year of operation Desert Rock would generate an estimated $1.5 billion to the Navajo treasury in the first 30 years.


During the hearing Begay cited the delay in the issuance of the air quality permit for Desert Rock as an obstacle that the Navajo Nation is encountering with a federal agency. The permit is pending review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.


Begay also renewed the need for Congress to assist in funding the carbon capture and sequestration portion of the coal-fired plant. “The addition of the Carbon Capture and Sequestration to the new generation of clean coal plants that is represented by Desert Rock stands to bring the highest return on this ‘environmental investment’ as opposed to retrofitting older, less efficient coal plants,” Begay said.


“Our third major project is the Diné Wind Project, one of the largest wind generation systems under development in the U.S. today,” said Begay. “In 2006, DPA began a joint venture with Citizens Energy Corporation because of their strong commitment to working with Native communities.”


Senate Indian Affairs Committee Vice Chair Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, thanked Begay for testifying. “I want to commend the Navajo Nation for pursuing the Diné Wind farm project.”


Chairman Dorgan said that the Senate Committee staff will travel to the various tribes to hold round table discussions on development and obstacles that tribes face.


# # #