FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Navajo Power Energy Roundtable is scheduled April 22-23 and it is a free virtual event hosted by Navajo Power. The event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (DST) on April 22 and from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (DST) on April 23.
The roundtable brings together leaders, experts and representatives of institutions and governments that are eager to collaborate to upgrade energy infrastructure on tribal lands while also building upon the historic role Indian Country has played in powering the American West. Brett Isaac, Managing Partner at Navajo Power, explained a detailed 2021 Vision will also be presented to help foster discussion and advance action on the unique set of opportunities present for tribal nations in the rapidly expanding renewable energy economy.
“From the deployment of off-grid solar systems to the development of utility scale solar and wind fields, from innovative energy storage technologies to new transmission lines, Indian Country is uniquely positioned to organize investments in the tens of billions,” Isaac said. Isaac also explained these new sources of economic activity can energize job creation and community economic development initiatives geared at solving a pressing range of social challenges, such as access to housing, water and electricity for all.
The two-day webinar features several energy experts, leaders and supporters of renewable energy development. On April 22, Secretary Deb Haaland of the U.S. Department of the Interior is invited to provide opening remarks, as well as Navajo Nation Council Delegate Carl Slater, U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran and U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan.
Session topics on April 22 will include: Western Energy Landscape: Renewable Energy and Transition Economies; Local Economic Development; and Federal Programs: What is on the horizon?
Day 2 on April 23 will kick off with a keynote address from Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. Session topics on this day will include: Power Market Economics; What are the key trends?; Finance and Capital Markets; and, Tribal Utilities: Self-Determination in Energy.
Advance registration is requested, you can access the Zoom webinar at https://navajopower.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dI9lBJymQ9-YehnWmErCXQ
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Navajo Power Energy Roundtable
AGENDA
| DAY 1 – April 22 | ||
| 9:00 am – 10:00 am MDT | Welcome Invocation Opening Keynote | Clara Pratte, Navajo Power Lorenzo Max, Dine Hatalii (Medicine person) Association, Professor at Northern Arizona University Carl Slater, Navajo Nation Council, Vice Chair of Health, Education and Human Services Committee |
| 10:00 am – 11:00 amMDT | Western Energy Landscape: Renewable Energy and Transition Economies | Amanda Ormond, Western Grid Group Pete Ken Atcitty, PNM David Hochschild, California Energy Commission (CEC) Pilar Thomas, Quarles & Brady Brett Isaac, Navajo Power, Moderator |
| 11:00 am – 12 noonMDT | Local Economic Development | Otto Tso, Navajo Nation Council Travis Tso, Native Builders Brian Cole, Navajo THAW Arvin Trujillo, Four Corners Economic Development Group Tom Conroy, Kinetic Energy Tony Skrelunas, Navajo Power, Moderator |
| 12:00 – 1:00pmMDT | Federal Programs: What is on the horizon? | Wahleah Johns, Director, Office of Indian Energy, DOE Alejandro Moreno, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power, DOE Duane Matt, Department of Interior / Energy and Minerals Danny Kennedy, New Energy Nexus, Moderator |
| DAY 2 – April 23 | ||
| 9:00 am – 9:30amMDT | Welcome Back – Recap Day 1, Intro Day 2 Keynote | Clara Pratte, Navajo Power Honorable President Jonathan Nez, Navajo Nation |
| 9:30 am – 10:00 amMDT | Power Market Economics: What are the key trends? | Uday Vadarajan, Rocky Mountain Institute |
| 10:00 am – 11:00amMDT | Finance and Capital Markets | Brian Cassutt, AES Clean Energy, Treasurer Peter Liu, Clean Energy Advantage Partners, Co-Founder & Managing Director Dr. Michael K. Dorsey, Limited Partner, Ibersun Josh Finn, Navajo Power, Moderator |
| 11:00am – 12:00pmMDT | Tribal Utilities: Self-determination in Energy | Derek Dyson, NTUA Brian Lugo, Councilman, Morongo Joseph McNeil, Standing Rock Sioux Nonabah Lane, Navajo Power, Moderator |