Title
A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE APPLICATION TO DOE FOR "RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT IN INDIAN COUNTRY PROGRAM" UNDER PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT DE-FOA-0000424
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WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government on behalf of the Cherokee people;
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America;
WHEREAS, protection and exercise of good stewardship of tribal lands, waters and minerals is a duty and a sovereign right of the tribe;
WHEREAS, widespread application of chicken litter from poultry farming in Northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas results in run-off into waterways that run through tribal lands and adversely affect our water quality;
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is working with the State of Oklahoma and the federal courts to find a solution to the problem that will protect tribal lands while maintaining jobs within the industry;
WHEREAS, the tribe seeks funds with which to determine feasibility of use of poultry litter and other biomass to generate energy;
WHEREAS, such a project has the potential to provide significant energy resources while protecting the lands and waters of the tribe.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that the Council encourages and supports application by the Office of the Principal Chief to the Department of Energy for a grant to determine feasibility of energy production using poultry litter.