S1: E3 Building Relationships with Tribal Communities with Cathy Newby, Director of Tribal Gov't at PNM

Cathy Newby is a member of the Navajo Nation and the Director of Tribal Government at PNM, New Mexico’s largest electricity provider. She talks with Carolyn Parrs about the critical intersection of water rights, energy justice, and indigenous identity, focusing on the Navajo Nation's water infrastructure transfer from PNM. Cathy shares her insights on the importance of collaboration, cultural respect, and the ongoing challenges faced by tribal communities in accessing reliable energy. 

Key Ideas

• Water infrastructure transfer is a long-term effort.
• Energy justice is crucial in the energy transition.
• Collaboration with tribal communities leads to better outcomes.
• Energy access and affordability are top priorities for tribes.
• Building trust takes time and consistent engagement.
• Community solar projects can empower indigenous communities.
• Virtual power plants can enhance grid stability.
• Energy justice must prioritize people over technology. Tribes are sovereign nations with their own governance.
• Understanding tribal history is crucial for effective collaboration.
• The Light Up Navajo initiative has lit over a thousand homes.
• Tribal leaders must have a seat at the table in energy discussions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Water as Life

03:09 Cathy Newby's Background and Cultural Significance

05:49 The Importance of Indigenous Identity

08:49 The Water Infrastructure Transfer Process

11:57 Energy Justice and Community Impact

14:58 Lessons Learned from the Transfer

17:53 Collaboration and Engagement with Tribal Communities

21:05 Defining Energy Equity and Justice

24:01 Building Trust with Indigenous Communities

26:53 Challenges of Energy Access and Affordability

30:05 Community Support During Outages

33:01 Engaging with Developers and Solar Projects

36:04 The Role of Virtual Power Plants

39:10 The Future of Energy Justice

42:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

46:32 Understanding Tribal Sovereignty and Collaboration

49:22 Building Relationships with Tribal Nations

52:32 Light Up Navajo Initiative

56:30 Energy Justice and Community Engagement

01:01:03 Humanizing the Energy Transition

01:05:10 Navigating Historical Contexts in Energy Projects

01:10:57 Advocacy and Emotional Connections in Energy Negotiations

Links

About PNM

Light Up Navajo Initiative 

Meet Carolyn Parrs

Learn about New Mexico State University’s Microlearning

Mind Over Markets: Create clear and compelling messaging to connect with more customers and grow.

Just Power is produced and hosted by Carolyn Parrs, sustainability and environmental communication and marketing consultant, coach, and advocate for a just transition to clean energy that leaves no one behind. The podcast is brought to you by New Mexico State University and Mind Over Markets.

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

New Mexico State University Microlearning

Mind Over Markets

LinkedIn