Members of the Navajo Nation Resources & Development Committee convened in Twin Arrows on Oct. 29 to examine pathways for establishing a permanent Energy Office or a broader Energy Authority, a step aimed at addressing what delegates described as fragmented project intake, the absence of a cohesive energy tax code, and inconsistent vetting of energy projects. The committee laid out three structural options for consideration: embedding an office within existing government structures, creating an enterprise under Navajo Nation Holdings, or forming a standalone authority.

Committee leaders underscored that current processes for approving and managing energy projects on Navajo lands have been dispersed across multiple agencies and entities. That fragmentation, officials said, has complicated revenue collection, project oversight and environmental and cultural reviews. The lack of a unified energy tax code was identified as a key fiscal gap that could be resolved if a permanent body were empowered to standardize taxation and fee collection related to energy development.

The three models discussed each carry different implications for governance and community control. Placing an Energy Office within the government could ensure closer alignment with tribal policy and sovereignty but may face bureaucratic constraints. An enterprise under Navajo Nation Holdings could operate with greater commercial flexibility and revenue-generation orientation, while a standalone authority might combine regulatory powers with a degree of independence aimed at ensuring consistent vetting and enforcement.

To move the process forward, the committee outlined practical next steps: drafting enabling legislation that would define the office or authority’s powers and structure; building a centralized project-tracking system to document project stages, revenue flows and compliance; and forming an expert oversight board to bring technical, legal and cultural expertise to project review. A follow-up work session is scheduled for Nov. 24, when delegates will continue deliberations and refine legislative language.

For McKinley County residents and tribal members, the outcome could be significant. A centralized energy body could streamline approvals for renewable projects such as wind and solar, as well as manage legacy fossil-fuel operations, potentially improving local hiring, contracting opportunities and revenue transparency. It could also strengthen protections for sacred sites and environmental resources by standardizing vetting procedures and monitoring. Conversely, how the office is structured will affect how quickly it can act and how accountable it is to elected leaders and the public.

The committee’s process illustrates a broader trend of Indigenous governments asserting greater control over natural-resource governance. The Nov. 24 session will be a key moment for stakeholders across McKinley County to track, as the legislative drafting and design choices made now will shape energy policy, economic development and cultural preservation on Navajo Nation lands for years to come.