I call this hearing of the Committee on Indian Affairs to order.  Aloha, and thank you for being with us today.  Welcome to the oversight hearing entitled Energy Development in Indian Country.

Native lands hold great potential for energy development.  Collectively, tribal nations - Indian tribes, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians - are the third-largest owners of mineral resources in the United States.

Their lands are estimated to contain three percent of the known oil and gas reserves, as much as thirty percent of the coal west of the Mississippi, and up to a third or more of the nation's uranium. 

Native lands are also geographically situated to become great producers of renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, and biomass.

In Hawaii, we have been focusing on developing renewable energy resources to reduce our dependence on imported energy sources.  I anticipate that the State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will be sharing some of their innovative strategies to develop these resources on Hawaiian trust lands.

Harnessing these vast energy resources means great economic development prospects for Native communities, and the United States has a trust responsibility to ensure they can participate fully.  Many Native communities are located away from major population centers where other forms of economic development are not feasible.  Energy production provides jobs for Natives and non-Natives alike.  Developing energy resources at home also decreases our dependence on foreign energy sources.

Like other areas of Indian policy, Congress has attempted to address energy development issues with limited success.

Some barriers include administrative delays in permitting processes, state taxation of energy development on tribal lands, and poor access to the transmission infrastructure to bring energy resources to market.

Helping tribes and Native communities develop their energy resources means a better quality of life for Native people and others living in the surrounding areas.  Especially for isolated communities, energy self-sufficiency is key.  I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about their ideas, concerns, and solutions to increase the ability of Native communities to participate in energy production to meet their needs.

Vice Chair Barrasso, my good friend from Wyoming, is my partner on this Committee, and I am happy that we are able to work together on the important work of this Committee.  Vice Chair Barrasso has taken a lead position on Indian energy development, and I am proud to co-sponsor his bill. 

I want to thank our witnesses for participating in today's hearing.  Enabling Native communities to develop their energy resources helps them develop their economies and provide for their people.  It also creates jobs in rural communities throughout the United States for both Natives and non-Natives alike while reducing dependency on foreign energy sources.

I look forward to continuing to work together with my colleagues on these issues so that we may implement policies that improve Native energy development.

More information: indian.senate.gov