Window Rock, Ariz. • Leaders from the Navajo Nation say they’ve begun negotiations with a potential new owner of a coal-fired power plant on their land.
Navajo President Russell Begaye says the tribe is negotiating with New York-based Avenue Capital for ownership and one of its subsidiaries, Middle River Power, as an operator.
Begaye told lawmakers Monday that an agreement could be ready for them to consider by October. He acknowledged it's an ambitious timeframe for a process that generally takes years.
Environmental groups have said the coal plant is not worth saving and have urged tribal officials to focus on renewable energy projects.