Energy Access is Energy Justice, The Yurok Tribe’s Trailblazing Work to Close the Native American Reservation Electricity Gap

Abstract

Through a case study of the Yurok Tribe’s path-breaking work to extend the electric grid to the Yurok Reservation in northern California, this book chapter examines the roots of the Native American reservation electricity gap. It argues that federal policies to fracture tribes, fragment tribal landholding, and funnel tribal resources to others foster the electricity gap on Native American reservations. It examines federal and state policies that erect barriers to electricity access and contribute to tribal poverty by forcing tribes that lack electric grid access to rely on diesel generators, or a mix of renewables and diesel. It suggests federal and state policy reforms to close electricity access gaps to diminish poverty, increase tribal welfare, strengthen democracy, and improve the environment.

Such energy access initiatives will assist tribes and tribal members, increase economic, civic, and democratic opportunities, reduce black carbon emissions, forestall climate change, and foster energy justice.

Keywords: Native American tribes, Native American energy, electricity access, energy access, energy justice, Indian law, climate change, federal energy regulation, state energy regulation

JEL Classification: K23, O33, O32