Native American Tribes face a unique economic opportunity in today’s fast-changing energy landscape. A recent letter published in *Science*, written by experts from the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines, highlights this potential. The letter emphasizes that if the federal government respects Tribal sovereignty, Tribes can benefit from resource extraction on their lands. This includes projects like natural gas development, power plants, and data centers.
Richard Luarkie, director of the Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty Initiative, and Morgan Bazilian, the Payne Institute’s director, stress the importance of integrating Tribes into both domestic and global supply chains. They believe that creating good conditions for these projects can lead to greater economic prosperity for Tribal communities.
The letter, titled “A Path to US Tribal Energy Sovereignty,” includes contributions from a diverse group of co-authors. Their insights aim to advance the discussion on energy and mineral development in a way that empowers Native communities.
Founded in 2023, the Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty Initiative supports Tribal communities. Its goal is to facilitate meaningful dialogues about energy projects while helping Tribes achieve their economic aspirations.
The Payne Institute for Public Policy combines scientific research with public policy to address issues relating to earth resources and energy. It aims to ensure that scientific findings inform national discussions and strategies. To learn more, visit PayneInstitute.MINES.edu.
