Should Native Tribes Have More Options When Using Their Land To Generate Profitable Energy? (S. 209)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is S. 209?
(Updated September 12, 2017)
This bill seeks to make it easier for Native American Tribes to access the resources on their land. It does so by simplifying the process for tribes to get Tribal Energy Resource Agreements (TERA); agreements that tribes can draw up to lease their land without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior.
It also requires the Secretary of the Interior to help tribes draw up technical plans for using their resources to generate energy and oil — renewable or otherwise. The bill also aims to make it easier for tribes to pool their resources. Finally, this bill creates a program to stimulate interest in biomass energy among Native American tribes.
Argument in favor
Native Americans have been subjugated and dispossessed for centuries. The least the government can do is make it easier for them to make money off of their own land.
Argument opposed
There’s a reason that government oversight exists — and in this case it's to keep big business from making a quick buck at the expense of people's health and the environment.
Impact
Native Americans, tribal governments, surrounding communities, energy companies, and the Department of the Interior.
Cost of S. 209
A CBO cost estimate is unavailable. However, a CBO estimate from the 2014 version of this bill found that implementation would cost $15 million dollars from 2015-2019.
Additional Info
In Depth:
This bill amends a number of existing acts, including the Act of August 15, 1955, the Long-Term Leasing Act, the Energy Conservation and Production Act and the Tribal Forest Protection Act. Most notably, it modifies The Energy Policy Act of 2005, which offers incentives for energy production from both renewable and fossil fuel sources.
Of Note:
Not long before the Indian Affairs Committee approved this bill, President Obama approved a 12 percent budget increase for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the bureau of Indian Education. The budget includes $3 million to promote youth participation in natural resources-based projects like forestry and agriculture.
Media:
Sponsoring Senator John Barrasso (R-WY)
CBO Cost Estimate (Previous Bill Version)
Indian Country Today Media Network
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