The final webinar of the 2015 Tribal Renewable Energy Webinar Series sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy and the Western Area Power Administration will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. 

The webinar is an opportunity for tribal leaders and staff to gain valuable insight into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Clean Power Plan (CPP) and the potential relevance of the regulations to tribal communities. Announced on Aug. 3, 2015, by President Obama and the EPA, the CPP takes consequential action to reduce carbon pollution from power plants and thus represents a historic and important step in a broader strategy to combat climate change. It is the first national standard to impose restrictions on carbon pollution from power plants and provide guidelines for the development, submission, and implementation of state plans. 

Native American tribal communities are key stakeholders in the plan, in part because they are uniquely vulnerable to climate change. The goal of the CPP is to implement strong but achievable standards for power plants and customized goals for states to cut the carbon pollution that is driving climate change. Tribal communities, whose health, economic well-being, and cultural traditions are tightly intertwined with the natural environment, are particularly affected by changes in the ecosystem. Existing health disparities in tribal communities, along with long-standing energy and economic inequities, increase vulnerability to climate impacts. In turn, low wages, unstable work, and inadequate housing are critical obstacles to planning for and adapting to climate change.

Along with the significant energy- and climate- related challenges that tribes face, they also have a compelling opportunity to take a leadership role in addressing the larger climate crisis. Because American Indian lands contain an estimated 5% of U.S. renewable energy generation potential, tribal communities can play an important, proactive role in addressing their own climate and energy challenges while assisting states in meeting the goals of the CPP. Renewable energy production on tribal lands can replace a portion of the energy produced from fossil fuel power plants.

The EPA is accepting comments on the proposed Federal Plan and Model Rules through Jan. 21, 2016, and tribes are encouraged to participate in the public comment process. Webinar presenter Jana Ganion, Energy Director for White House Climate Action Champion Blue Lake Rancheria (CA), will discuss the Plan from the tribal perspective, including concerns the Rancheria intends to raise through the public comment process.

“The Blue Lake Rancheria supports the Clean Power Plan’s CO2 emission reductions, clean energy incentives, and trading markets,” said Ganion, who believes tribes are well-positioned to advance CPP goals through renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. She sees the CPP as an “all-too rare” opportunity for tribes to participate directly in incentives for clean energy development, but said tribal governments require a direct federal-tribal structure that does not rely on states and need to participate in the public comment process to push for this modification. “A useable structure for tribes within the CPP is achievable,” she said, “but we have to deliver recommendations by Jan. 21, 2016. The Blue Lake Rancheria looks forward to working with other tribes on this important program.”

In addition to Ganion, other webinar presenters will include Sara Drescher from Forest Country Potawatomi Community (WI) and Laura McKelvey from the EPA, with introductory remarks by DOE Office of Indian Energy Senior Policy Advisor Doug MacCourt.

How to Register

The webinar is free, but you must register to participate and have Internet access, computer compatibility with Go-to-Meeting software, and a phone line. Register now.

References: 
Clean Power Plan
Tribal Energy System Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather Report