Native Americans Endorse Feed-in Tariffs for Oregon

Writes Paul Gipe: "The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians is encouraging Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber to include feed-in tariffs for renewable energy in his 10-year energy plan.

The move is significant in a region of North America where the indigenous people have long maintained they should have a say in how land is used and for what purpose. Tribes also directly control large amounts of land with resident populations that could use and profit from renewable energy development.

The Affiliated Tribes action is contained in a resolution passed at their mid-year convention 21-24 May 2012 in Newport, Oregon.

The resolution notes that feed-in tariffs are a highly effective policy mechanism that would lower barriers to the rapid development of renewable energy by tribal communities."