Native American leaders challenge the U.S. government in two energy areas of concern in the state of New Mexico.
In one case, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez is concerned that the Biden administration’s proposed oil and gas leasing freeze around the state’s Chaco Culture National Historical Park would harm Navajo mineral rights owners.
In another matter, New Mexico Indigenous leaders are concerned about a proposed multimillion-dollar transmission line that would cross what they consider sacred lands near the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The Associated Press reported the transmission line would bring more electricity to one of the nation’s top nuclear weapons laboratories as it looks to power ongoing operations and future missions that include manufacturing key components for the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The 12-mile line would cross national forest land in an area known as the Caja del Rio and span the Rio Grande at White Rock Canyon.
The All Pueblo Council of Governors has adopted a resolution to support preservation of the Caja del Rio.