PHOENIX, March 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Honoring the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe for sharing their lands and energy resources, the Yes to NGS Coalition today launched an educational campaign using the voices of native workers who create the energy and water supply for millions of families across Arizona. Tribal families stand to lose the most if the Navajo Generating Station shuts down prematurely.
"People need to know that when they turn the light switch on or use water coming from the north, at its source, it comes from tribal lands in northern Arizona, and that's our community," says Jarvis Williams, a member of the Navajo Nation. "We all take great pride in providing vital energy and water for the state."
Both Navajo and Hopi tribal governments rely on their energy economies to fund essential government programs including schools, police and fire departments. The mine and power plant operations also spur economic strength through the purchase of local goods and services from tribal businesses. If these operations shut down a quarter century before their time, the greatest impacts will be felt by the traditional working family.
At risk are hundreds of tribal jobs supporting thousands of extended family members. The mine and the power plant also generate revenues providing more than 85 percent of the Hopi's annual general fund budget and 22 percent of the Navajo's general fund. No Hopi village or Navajo chapter will avoid feeling the difficult impacts of early closure.
Workers warn that families will be separated, and parents would have to leave the reservation to find jobs. Children would not have their parents and grandparents with them every day and would lose important family connections.
"At the end of the day, we're all in this together and it's going to affect all of us," says Vern Hongeva, a member of the Hopi Tribe.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke is leading a stakeholder process and says he is committed to working with all parties to keep the plant operating and protect tribal jobs. Credible buyers have expressed interest in plant ownership, and discussions continue working toward selection of a final ownership group.
"Yes to NGS" is a coalition of labor, industry and consumer groups representing more than 100,000 U.S. businesses and organizations. The coalition has a mission of informing communities, engaging stakeholders and advocating solutions that could allow the Navajo Generating Station to operate into the 2040s as envisioned when the plant was built. Visit Yes to NGS.org, Yes to NGS on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @YestoNGS to learn more.
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SOURCE Yes to NGS Coalition
