Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Biden administration directs $366M to clean energy for Native American Tribes, rural areas
------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Monument Valley, Utah, in the Navajo Nation. _A Sparrow at Home, Flickr ([link removed])
On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced ([link removed]) it will direct $366 million toward 17 renewable energy projects on Native American reservations and rural areas across the U.S. The projects will include solar, battery storage, and hydropower, and will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The announcement comes days after a federal agency granted ([link removed]) Native American Tribes more authority to block hydropower projects on their land—a win for Tribes across the country, but particularly for those in the Southwest where extreme drought ([link removed]) is raising concerns over water security. Water is especially of concern in the Navajo Nation, where around 30 percent of Tribal members don't have reliable access to clean drinking water due to a lack of funding and water infrastructure.
What's more, about a fifth ([link removed]) of homes in the Navajo Nation do not have access to electricity, and nearly a third of homes that have electricity on Native American reservations in the U.S. report monthly outages.
The funding announced Tuesday will go to 30 Tribes, and at least 12 will be Tribal communities like the Navajo and Hopi Nations, who plan to install solar and battery energy storage systems to provide electricity for 300 homes.
** Quick hits
------------------------------------------------------------
BLM announces increased protections for 400,000 acres in Eastern Oregon
Public News Service ([link removed].) | Oregon Public Broadcasting ([link removed]) | Argus Observer ([link removed])
How states make money off Tribal lands
High Country News ([link removed])
Column: On a disinformation campaign to quash a proposed national monument
The Land Desk ([link removed])
Colorado River talks break down on drought response plans
E&E News ([link removed])
Colorado has hit 80% of its goal to cut greenhouse gases — but it must double down to reach 100%
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Support for conservation is at an all-time high, according to new Conservation in the West Poll
Westwise ([link removed])
Glacier, Yellowstone national parks receive funding for bison conservation
Billings Gazette ([link removed].)
These 5 national parks broke visitation records in 2023
Backpacker Magazine ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
------------------------------------------------------------
” When there’s clarity about jurisdiction over Indian lands, it is easier for Tribes to work with others to protect public safety, public health and the natural environment.”
—Bryan Newland, assistant secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior, High Country News ([link removed])
** Picture This
------------------------------------------------------------
@usfws ([link removed])
me: I don't like pictures of me
also me: Heeeeeeey!
This black bear was having an impromptu photo session with a trail cam in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico. The camera is in place to help track Mexican Wolves, but also catches other night life.
Photo: Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team
============================================================
** Website ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
Copyright © 2024 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.
Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
