vice president kamala harrisWhile serving as California's attorney general, he intervened on behalf of local Native American tribes' efforts to protect sacred burial grounds from being turned into wind farms, which critics deemed green energy mobs. refused.
The California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) declared the land used for the Ocotillo Express wind farm a “sacred site” in 2013 after hearing hours of “emotional” testimony from local Native Americans. Voted to declare. According to East County Magazineargued that “the U.S. Bureau of Land Management ignored their concerns and clearly documented obligations to protect sacred sites and cemeteries in its expedited approval process for the Ocotillo Express wind facility.”
Tribal leaders at the time described the Ocotillo wind project as a “total destruction,” “built on the graves of our ancestors,” and a “violation of trust.”
Local Native Americans claimed the wind farm was built in an area known as the Valley of the Dead, where the remains of their ancestors have been buried for more than 10,000 years. Some tribes supported wind farms, but the NAHC Voted 4-0 Urge Attorney General Harris to consider legal options.
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“What I really want to say is, 'Tear down and give the land back to the tribes.' … I'm asking the attorney general to give this commission more power and say, 'Tear down that wall.' Please allow us to say so,” NAHC Commissioner Marshall McKay said at the time.
At the time, AG Harris did not seek to take legal action in favor of the activists, instead stating that Harris's office “required the Native American Heritage Commission to pursue legal action against federal agencies regarding the project.” We have determined that we do not have authority to sue in a manner that is located on federal land. ”
“Additionally, due to a conflict of interest, the Attorney General is no longer able to represent the Native American Heritage Commission regarding the Ocotillo Project.”
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Local media reported Harris' actions as “sabotaging” the tribe's efforts.
“Pattern Energy's industrial wind facility was built on land known as the 'Valley of the Dead' by Native American tribes for more than 10,000 years,” East County Magazine wrote.
“The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians also opposed the desecration of their ancestors' remains and persuaded the California Native Heritage Commission (NAHC) that the state should take action on their behalf, but their efforts were dwarfed by the California Attorney General's Office. Stopped by Kamala Harris.”
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The Ocotillo wind farm has had a number of issues, including safety issues and closures. These safety hazards include equipment spraying oil across the sacred site, a turbine fire, and one of the towers catastrophically losing a blade. In 2021, BLM temporarily shut down This is the second time in the last five years that a tower has collapsed.
Questions have also been raised about whether wind farms are even delivering on the promised green energy benefits after generating less than expected capacity. 3 years in a row And experts are wondering whether the plant was only needed for “spin.”
“It was heartbreaking to see this project desecrate such a historically and culturally significant landscape, but it was also built with BLM support and based on false claims by the developer. It’s even worse when you know,” said Viejas Brigade of Kumeyaay Indians, president Anthony Pico. East County Magazine.
“Does economics trump justice in this country? I believe so, and that saddens me deeply,” Pico told commissioners during the confrontation. “I don't understand, and we don't understand, how the federal and state agencies that we rely on to hold people accountable will respond.” We allowed the complete destruction of Ocotillo Valley, perhaps our nation's richest cultural resource. ”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Harris-Waltz's campaign for comment.
“The Ocotillo Wind Farm began operations 12 years ago after being designated by the U.S. government as a critical resource to protect the nation's energy security. This important clean energy facility is located in Imperial County. It will create 370 jobs and provide enough clean electricity to power 300,000 people, with no emissions or water used by Americans every year.'' Pattern Energy spokesperson a representative told FOX News Digital. “Ocotillo Wind uses American-made wind turbines and has generated more than $20 million in sales tax revenue for Imperial County and the State of California. In its first 20 years of operation, Ocotillo Wind has generated more than $20 million in sales tax revenue for Imperial County and the state of California. It is expected to generate more than $100 million in revenue for the jurisdiction, with important beneficiaries being Imperial County, Imperial Valley College, and Imperial Unified School District.”
“The Ocotillo facility was carefully sited to support America's energy needs while not directly impacting cultural resources. During development, the company spent three years carefully planning and listening to community input. We listened and addressed the feedback through numerous revisions to the project, and the final design was well received and supported by many local residents, officials, and Native American tribes.”
