Indian energy production endeavors received a boost and Indian sovereignty was reaffirmed with today’s passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, declared U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), the Ranking Member on the House Resources Committee which has jurisdiction over energy production on federal lands and Indian issues.
A major component of the bill establishes an Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs within the Department of Energy. The establishment of this office was first proposed by Rahall in the Tribal Energy Self-Sufficiency Act, a bill he authored in 2001.
"Congress has finally provided some real assistance to Indian tribes in this energy bill. In particular, the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs will cater only to Indian energy needs and will work with Indian tribes to help plan, coordinate, fund, and implement tribal energy programs that will supply energy for tribal members or for economic development purposes," stated Rahall.
The energy bill also provides for greater opportunity for tribes to play a significant role in broadening the national energy mix by creating Tribal Energy Resource Agreements (TERA). TERAs will cut much of the red tape out of the process for an Indian tribe to gain approval from the Secretary of the Interior for energy development projects.
In this new process, an Indian Tribe will submit its plan to develop tribal energy projects to the Secretary of the Interior, including the types of projects and the process by which contract or leases for energy development will be administered. Once the Secretary approves the TERA, the tribe will no longer need Secretarial sign off on each energy development project it pursues.
"This new process will level the playing field for tribes able and eager to contribute to our supplies," said Rahall.
Rahall added, "I would like to thank my colleagues U.S. Rep. John Dingell, the Dean of the House, and U.S. Rep. Ed Markey for their tireless assistance in ensuring that the tribes were not left out of this bill. I would also like to commend U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman for his leadership in crafting this legislation that treats Indians as equal partners in supplying America with energy sources."
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the conference report on the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by a vote of 275-156. The Act is the result of negotiations that resolved the differences between the House and the Senate versions of a new national energy strategy. The Senate is expected to vote in favor of the legislation tomorrow and then send it to President Bush for his approval.
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