Communities, families and environment must remain
focus of NGS transition plan
STATE
CAPITOL, PHOENIX –
The legislators from District 7 issued the following statements regarding the
announcement from the Navajo Generating Station owners that they will continue
operating the plant until 2019, pending the approval of the Navajo
Nation:
Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai,
D-Cameron (District 7)
"NGS opened
in 1976 and was expected to operate for 68 years until 2044. The current plan is
to close the plant 25 years earlier than expected. The southwest, the nation
and the world have benefited from the Navajo Generating Station, but the
communities surrounding the plant remain underdeveloped, and now the owners are
planning an exit. The reality is we cannot allow what the mining industry did
to our tribal nations after the Cold War to be repeated. I am looking forward to
working with everyone on this transition, the length of which depends on the
leaders of the Navajo Nation. I hope the recent announcement is sincere and not
a stunt to renegotiate a new lease, which would further undervalue natural
resources and undercuts revenues going to tribal nations. We must seize this
opportunity to develop an industry that can carry on for centuries in the
renewable energy sector.”
Rep. Wenona Benally, D-Window
Rock (District 7)
"With
yesterday's announcement on the closure of NGS, we must now focus our
attention on ensuring that the transition is done in a responsible
manner. The economic security of the communities impacted is paramount, and I
look forward to working on creating opportunities for workers to receive
significant job and skills training in other sectors, including the renewable
energy industry. Additionally, I look forward to having further discussions
about the plans for clean-up and restoration."
Rep. Eric Descheenie,
D-Chinle (District 7)
"My heart goes out to the
working women and men who are directly impacted by this issue. All those who are
stakeholders in NGS need to commit publicly now how they plan to ensure our
families have every opportunity to transition from these unearned circumstances.
By that, I mean leaders created the dire circumstance we have before us. Leaders
created this, not our families doing their best to make an honest living. I
implore leaders to chart a new path, one that is responsive to traditional
knowledge and environmental sustainability, in addition to economics. Anything
less is unacceptable."
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