Renewable energy vs. cultural preservation - Solar, Wind and Land: Conflicts in Renewable Energy Development - page 140

preservation statutes remain an additional weapon for tribal groups and
others seeking to impede or frustrate offshore wind energy development.
Charging forward while preserving the past
At some point in the future, humankind may discover a new, transformative
energy technology that renders wind turbines and rooftop solar panels
totally obsolete. If society ever reaches that point, today's renewable energy
systems themselves will then become mere relics of a past era. In such a
world, wind turbines and solar panels could conceivably have historic or
cultural value to the future generations who ultimately inherit this planet.
Of course, none of that is relevant right now. Indeed, researchers and
policymakers across the world today must continue to search for ways
to incorporate renewable energy technologies into the landscape without
unnecessarily disrupting its physical reminders of humankind's diverse
cultural heritage. Although they have their own distinct views of what
constitutes conservation, renewable energy advocates and historic preser-
vationists alike are ultimately focused on protecting the world's precious
resources for the enjoyment of future generations. Hopefully, these groups
can grow to recognize the commonality in their competing goals and work
together in pursuing a more culturally rich, sustainable world.
Notes
1 See, e.g ., American Planning Association, Balancing Solar Energy Use with
Potential Competing Interests at 1 (2012), available at www.planning.org/
research/solar/brieingpapers/potentialcompetinginterests.htm (last visited
Aug. 19, 2013).
2 For example, there are more than 560 federally recognized Indian tribes in the
United States. See Heather J. Tanana & John C. Ruple, Energy Development
in Indian Country: Working Within the Realm of Indian Law and Moving
Towards Collaboration , 32 Utah Envtl. L. Rev. 1, 2 (2012).
3 In the United States, much of this relocation process was initiated under the
Indian Removal Act of 1830. For a brief overview of this legislation and its
impacts and links to numerous other sources on this topic, visit the United
States Library of Congress website at www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/
Indian.html (last visited Dec. 18, 2013).
4 For general information about coal production at the Kayenta Mine in the
Black Mesa area and use of the mined coal at the Navajo generating station,
visit the Peabody Energy website at www.peabodyenergy.com/content/276/
Publications/Fact-Sheets/Kayenta-Mine (last visited Aug. 20, 2013).
5 See Douglas C. MacCourt, Renewable Energy Development in Indian
Country: A Handbook for Tribes, NREL & AterWynne, LLP (June 2010)
(available at http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy/pdfs/indian_energy_
legal_handbook.pdf ( last visited Aug. 12, 2013) (citing DOE Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), DOE's Tribal Energy Program ,
PowerPoint Presentation prepared by Lizana K. Pierce (available at http://
apps1.eere.energy.gove/tribalenergy/) ).
6 See id.