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America's energy policy is slowly shifting towards wind and solar energy as the best realistic solution to our national energy crisis. Careful development and implementation of these two unlimited and relatively inexpensive resources are where our national vision and economic independence intersect with economic reality. We have reached the point in time where our nation must choose to either guarantee an energy independent future or opt to slide into a dark age with terrible unforeseen consequences.

Exploring the ideas, technology and resources are especially important for rural homeowners, farmers and especially Native American Tribes. Once upon a time, during the post-war economic boom, the United States and a handful of states with promising hydroelectric resources undertook the construction of numerous hyrdropower dams. These astounding engineering accomplishments are licensed for a period of fifty years by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC. During the construction era, there was little consideration given to the impact of the projects on the environment, the people and the Tribes.

Some of these projects have recently completed relicensing negotiations and are having their licenses renewed for another fifty years. The relicensing process now includes provisions for several environmental laws that were not on the books back in the 1950s. Additionally, the government regulators and state agencies are now required to consult with the Native American Tribes affected by the construction of the hydroelectric power projects.

The thrust of the Pickens Plan (www.pickensplan.com) is to build a matrix of wind turbines connected to a national electrical grid ranging from Texas to Idaho and beyond. Along the way, the project will require vast acreage of open, undeveloped land. In some states, much of the open spaces are federally protected Tribal Reservations. It only follows that the affected Tribes should be included in development of the plan, not be forgotten or sidestepped for social-political reasons. It is important to have an inclusive, American plan that addresses the energy and economic needs of the Tribes and respects their sovereignty and cultural resources as well.

During the rush to build hydropower projects during the 1950's, this wasn't the case, as powerful state agencies and Federal regulators simply ignored or dismissed Native American Tribes and Treaties, along with their social, economic, environmental, historical and cultural interests. Congress, the states and the federal regulators cannot choose to ignore the Native American Tribes and these issues in the development of an energy policy with a wind turbine generating system.

Solving our nation's energy dilemma must be accomplished wisely, not at the expense or the diminishment of Tribal sovereignty. Outreach to Tribes has already begun and has realized some success through the Department of Energy. An future development must recognize that participation by the affected tribes is of their right and choice, one that cannot be imposed by the will of the United States or corporation.

This is surely a great time for energy developers, planners, engineers and entrepreneurs of all sorts with any number of different visions for saving our nation from ourselves. However, along the way to becoming an energy independent nation, they and we must wisely revisit the past to hopefully avoid repeating the errors and omissions made during the heyday of the great hydropower projects. By paying attention to everyone affected by the problem with America's energy policy, a massive wind turbine power project may indeed be the wave of the future, afterall.

Learn more about this author, Francis Jock.
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