Tribal lands hold huge renewable energy potential

In Virginia, a new National Wildlife Federation report states that Indian Tribes hold huge potential on their native lands to generate clean energy from renewable resources. In collaboration with National Tribal Environmental Council, Native American Rights Fund, and Intertribal Council On Utility Policy, the report titled The New Energy Future in Indian Country: Confronting Climate Change, Creating Jobs, and Conserving Nature provides an overview of the possibilities for renewable energy in Indian Country and details case studies of wind, solar, geothermal and biomass production, as well as energy efficiency/weatherization. Steve Torbit, director of the Federation’s Rocky Mountain Regional Center and Tribal Lands Conservation Program noted that there are 95 million acres under their management and that tribes have centuries of experience conserving the natural world. “With our partners, we developed this report to showcase the tremendous opportunities tribes have to implement renewable energy, energy efficiency, and participate in the green economy, while protecting their natural resource heritage,” he said.