Crane Introduces Bill Allowing Navajo Energy Development

Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) has introduced legislation reversing a Biden Administration ban on mineral leasing land in Chaco Canyon, allowing the Navajo Nation to invest in energy development.

The bill, which Rep. Crane named the "Energy Opportunities for All" Act, arose from a June 2023 Public Land Order implemented by the Biden Administration. The order banned the use of over 300,000 acres of federal land, a ten-mile radius in Chaco Canyon, for oil and gas production for 20 years, much to the Navajo Nation's discontent.

While other tribes and environmental activists praised the move, the Navajo Nation attempted to compromise by asking for half of the land for development.

"The Navajo Nation attempted to compromise by proposing a 5-mile buffer as opposed to the 10-mile," said Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley in June 2023, "The Biden Administration has undermined the position of the Navajo Nation with today's action and impacted the livelihood of thousands of Navajo allotment owners and their families."

As Rep. Crane noted in his press release, Biden's Secretary of the Interior, Debra Haaland, complained that the first Trump Administration failed to consult with Native Americans. Yet, in her capacity as Interior Secretary under Biden, she helped impose the Public Land Order without respecting the sovereignty of the Navajo Nation in the area.

Thus, Crane worked with Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren to draft the Energy Opportunities for All Act, which would repeal the Public Land Order.

In a statement, the Arizona Congressman said, "Secretary Haaland and President Biden engaged in selective sovereignty driven by extremists with no concern for Navajo interests or the energy needs of all Americans."

As a result, Crane was "proud to reintroduce this bill that would invalidate the Biden admin's meddlesome ban. Together with the Trump Administration, I'm confident we will be able to advance tribal interests, unleashing energy sovereignty and prosperity."

Similarly, President Nygren added, "I appreciate Rep. Eli Crane for introducing this piece of legislation. The Navajo Nation continues to be an energy-producing tribal Nation. I support the Navajo people having a say in how their land and minerals are developed. In this case, the Navajo allottees have an important right to have their voices heard."

The Energy Opportunities for All Act is not Crane's first collaboration with the Navajo Nation, having introduced a bill in June that would improve the provision of and authorization to lease clean water not only to them but to the Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe in northeastern Arizona.