Iowa Traction: Electric Survivor

[nachoman]

If you are talking about the Black Mesa mine, yes it is still operating. The adjacent Kayenta mine closed when the power plant in Laughlin, Nevada was closed. The Kayenta mine transported it's coal to the power plant via pipeline. In their future water use claims, both the Hopi and Navajo indicate a potential to re-open the Kayenta mine, or develop other mining areas, and build new power plants on the reservation. Proposals include the possibility of new dedicated electric railroads. However, I doubt such plans will ever come to fruition. There are too much politics that would have to agree (most importantly inter- and intra- tribal), and a very limited supply of a crucial natural resource - water. Most likely water to run a power plant or mine would have to come from off of the reservation, requiring a pipeline. And, the source of that water would have to be won in court -