The largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), is calling for a halt to offshore wind projects. The NCAI is urging the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to halt all scoping and permitting for offshore wind projects until a comprehensive and transparent procedure is developed and implemented that will adequately protect tribal environmental and sovereign interests. This resolution was adopted during a meeting of the organization’s general assembly that ended yesterday.
The Biden administration has rapidly opened up much of the US coastline to offshore wind development, with a goal of building out large wind farms that can help the US meet its climate commitments under the Paris agreement. However, some proposed offshore projects are located near federally recognized tribal territory. Researchers and advocates have noted that concerns from Indigenous peoples are often sidelined.
The resolution adopted by the NCAI urges the Biden administration to consult tribal nations on any energy projects that could have an impact on their territories. The NCAI wants to ensure that tribes are included in project planning and that there are measures in place to protect their territories and traditional resources. The resolution calls for negotiations of “fair compensation” for using their lands and resources and protections to prevent damage to the environment or cultural heritage.
The Department of the Interior has not yet commented on the resolution, but the Biden administration has made commitments to consult tribes and respect Indigenous knowledge in forming policies. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has said that tribes should “have a seat at the table for every decision that impacts them and their communities.”
