Letter: Invest in renewable energy, local businesses

To the editor:

Last week, Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr., issued a press release titled "Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. places Desert Rock project into international perspective during State of Nation address."

The press release was deceiving by not reflecting and addressing the health concerns related to pollutants emitted by power plants.

Shirley also stated that Desert Rock will create economic prosperity and is 10 times cleaner (environmental) than other projects. Also mentioned in the release was other countries are proposing to build over 800 coal-fired power plants to meet their rising demands and if we do not build one, the Navajo economic dependence and poverty will continue into the future.

First of all, you cannot remove sulfur and mercury from coal and burn it free of emissions. "Clean Coal" is non-existent.  If there was such a thing called "clean coal" (free of pollutants), we would be embracing Desert Rock happily.

Secondly, to state that if we do not build Desert Rock, the Navajo will continue into poverty is false. 

Desert Rock Project has been allocated over $15 million by the Navajo Nation. If the Navajo Nation invested the $15 million into small local businesses such as grocery stores, auto shops, feed stores, restaurants, shopping centers, laundromats, hotels, farming, ranching, in partnerships with local vendors, we would have created thousands of jobs, generated taxes and revenues that stay on the Navajo Nation.

If all the businesses mentioned above were built in Leupp, LeChee, Kaibeto, Tonalea, Navajo Mountain, Shonto, and Ganado, the local taxes generated would have then been funnel back to the chapters where it would be allocated for elderly housing assistance, scholarships, and help establish more businesses and partnerships with little impact to the environment.

Lastly, Mr. Shirley stated that he was concerned about New Mexico 's 11th hour meetings with another agency without the President's office being consulted first. The feeling of being left out was greatly felt and voiced by the impacted residents of Black Mesa, Desert Rock, East Canyon Diablo (C-Aquifer) and Twin Arrows (Scotts).

While the administration was meeting with Peabody, Sithe Global, Mohave Generating Station and the Gaming Commission, the families plead and cried over the harm that would continue on Black Mesa and Mother Earth. Desert Rock will emit pollutions causing health effects and Twin Arrows Casino will destroy, desecrate sacred ancient ruins/artifacts and create more social problems and poverty.  Imagine the feelings the residents went through when they were brushed aside (left out)?

Our Navajo economy will grow and stay healthy if we as a nation invest in renewable energy (wind/solar) and small local businesses, not Desert Rock or Twin Arrows Casino.

Calvin Johnson

Leupp, AZ

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