Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye is questioning the wisdom of Proposition 127 and has gone so far as to express “grave concerns” about the ballot measure. The Arizona ballot measure would require electric companies selling power in the state to get half of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Proposition 127, or the Renewable Energy Standards Initiative, would amend the Arizona constitution to demand that electric companies turn to renewable resources at a rate that increases annually, from 12 percent in 2020 to 50 percent in 2030. The initiative goes before voters on November 6.
Proposition 127 could seriously harm the Navajo Nation’s economy, President Begaye said Thursday at Four Corners Power Plant. In front of a crowd of plant workers, elected dignitaries and industry leaders, President Begaye urged voters to consider the future when they cast their ballots in November.
“If Proposition 127 passes, how long will this power plant last?” he said. “We support clean energy, but we also support coal because it’s the most dependable source of energy on the planet.”
President Begaye’s remarks came as the Four Corners Power Plant celebrated completion of a $1 billion upgrade that called for the retrofitting of the plant’s two remaining units with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology.
At 255 feet each, the SCRs are the tallest in North America. They will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide by 82 percent and help Four Corners Power Plant save hundreds of jobs, keeping the plant in operation during a time of economic and energy uncertainty.
During the celebration Thursday, President Begaye congratulated stakeholders and plant employees for persevering through 10 years of challenges. The plant has survived increasingly stringent environmental laws and debates about renewable energy.
President Begaye also commended the plant for investing in its future. Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine employ a predominantly Navajo workforce and contribute $250 million to the economy every year.
“The technology is not here yet, but coal will become a real player in the manufacturing industry in the future,” he said. “If you are investing millions of dollars into this plant, you’re not talking about closing down. And we shouldn’t be closing. This plant is the bedrock of the economy. It puts food on the tables. We need to do everything we can to keep this plant running.”