Power transmission lines damaging sacred sites and San Pedro River

The Center for Biological Diversity, a Tucson-based nonprofit, advocates for green energy that respects biodiversity and Indigenous cultures. February 2024 brought key victories in Arizona. An injunction was filed with the Tohono O’odham Nation and San Carlos Apache Tribe to halt wind-power transmission lines damaging sacred sites and the San Pedro River. More: Twitter, ENR.

A significant win with Navajo allies, backed by 7,000 supporters, stopped Black Mesa hydropower projects threatening aquifers, prehistoric sites, and wildlife. This established a nationwide policy granting Tribes veto power over permits on their land. Details: Inside Climate News. As the Center's Russ McSpadden noted, "industrial energy plans are just greenwashing" without community consent.