WASHINGTON
-U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) today announced that several tribes and tribal organizations in New Mexico will receive a total of $1.37 million for renewable energy development.
The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Energy's Tribal Energy Program, which has distributed $36 million for tribal energy development since 2002. According to the National Congress of American Indians, tribal lands have enough renewable potential to supply 14% of the nation's electricity needs with wind power, and over 4 times the nation's electricity needs with solar, in addition to one quarter of the nation's onshore oil and natural gas resources.
"Clean energy technology is already an important driver of New Mexico's economy, and it has great potential on tribal lands throughout the West. With this funding tribes will be able to create jobs in their communities and develop dependable, clean energy close to home." Udall said.
The projects receiving funds include:
Navajo Hopi Land Commission
:
$347,090
for a feasibility study for renewable energy on the 22,000-acre Paragon-Bisti lands in northwestern New Mexico. The study will examine the viability of developing up to 4,000 MW of solar power and the potential to deploy other forms of renewable energy at the site.
Zia Pueblo
:
$278,987
for feasibility study for integrated solar, geothermal and wind energy at Zia Pueblo and will assess the potential to augment these resources with gas-fired generation to provide a dependable power supply.
Jemez Pueblo:
$301,113
to complete pre-construction activities for a four-megawatt solar facility
$146,775
to install a cordwood-fired biomass energy system to heat the tribal visitor center
To'Hajilee Econonomic Development Inc:
$300,000
for pre-construction activities for the Shandiin Solar Farm Development, a 30-megawatt solar facility in To'Hajiilee, New Mexico
TOTAL: $1,373,965
