How wrong can you get?

In a recent Arizona Republic Op-ed piece, our former chairman, Vernon Masayesva celebrates the possible demise of the Mohave Generating Station, suggesting the dawning of a new era for the Hopi and Navajo people. He confidently asserts that the tribes will replace lost jobs, revenues and other benefits from Mohave with new renewable resources and other energy technologies.

What is so tragic about Masayesva's view is that it is the exact opposite of what would happen if Mohave closes. The closure of this facility, in reality, would bring economic devastation to both tribes, particularly the Hopi Tribe. Without any realistic alternatives in sight, it is easy for Masayesva to claim that the resources, jobs and other benefits will quickly be replaced. But he has not and cannot give any credible evidence or guarantees to substantiate this promise. Certainly Masayesva will not be there to pick up the pieces when he is proven wrong.

The reality of this situation is the following:

¥ Closure of Mohave will cost the Hopi Tribe annually almost 40 percent of its tribal revenues. It will cost the Navajo Tribe approximately 25 percent of its revenues. It has been estimated that the combined economic loss to both tribes by virtue of Mohave's closure would exceed $85 million a year, a setback neither tribe can afford. Hopi and Navajo schools, health care centers, senior citizen programs, law enforcement agencies, and other critical programs will be seriously damaged.

¥ Closure of Mohave will terminate almost 200 high paying ($60,000 to $70,000 annual salary) Navajo jobs that in turn provide enormous secondary and tertiary benefits to Navajo families and local communities. These jobs will not be replaced by comparable jobs if Mohave closes. It will also hurt a lesser number of Hopi jobs.

¥ The installation of scrubbers, baghouses and other air quality improvements, all currently planned for Mohave, would successfully mitigate air quality emissions and result in a state-of-the-art plant, contrary to Masayesva's assertions. These environmental measures are the very ones earlier recommended by the Grand Canyon Trust and Sierra Club as part of a consent decree.

¥ Recently, the tribes and companies, in conjunction with the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation, have identified an alternative water source beneath tribal lands (the C-Aquifer) to replace the long contentious use of the tribe's N-aquifer water. This change in water source will eliminate the principal controversy that has surrounded the Black Mesa Mine and the Mohave Power Plant in the past.

¥ The so-called energy alternatives cited by Masayesva are speculative and without any serious possibility of being implemented. They often involve unproven technologies not yet commercially tested. There are no sponsors or financial backers waiting in the wings. There would be long lead times (10-15 years) to explore and implement such possibilities, if they ever got off the ground. Talk is cheap and in this case, dangerous. The future of the Hopi and Navajo Tribes cannot depend on such irresponsible speculation.

What Vernon Masayesva and his followers should do is get behind the refurbishing of Mohave and the benefits it will bring. If they wish to promote new and unproven energy projects, that is fine. But it should not be at the expense of Mohave and continued Hopi revenues. They cannot leave the Hopi Tribe in the lurch without any protection for the future.

The survival of Hopi and Navajo is at stake. No one should be misled by Masayesva's irrational and irresponsible commentary.

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