08/02/2026
Coal was once the dominant U.S. energy source, powering the country’s growth from the late 1800s into the 1950s. Although it has given way to cleaner, more efficient and more transportable fuels, President Donald Trump has been a vocal proponent of a coal revival. The Navajo Nation could be a central figure in coal’s comeback, but the tribe has a complicated history with the fossil fuel — while it has served as a crucial heating source and pillar of the local economy, it has also left a legacy of health and environmental devastation.
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Join KJZZ Phoenix on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, to hear from a panel of experts who will discuss the future of Navajo Coal Country. Among the topics will be a proposal from the tribally owned Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) to extend the life of a New Mexico coal mine — that helps power homes in Phoenix — by more than a century.
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Panelist:
🎤 Dr. Karletta Chief, UA Indigenous Resiliency Center
🎤 Nicole Horseherder, Tó Nizhóní Ání
🎤 Robyn Jackson, Diné C.A.R.E.
🎤 Alexander Osif, Canyon Lands Health
🎤 Clara Pratte
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The free discussion will be moderated by Gabriel Pietrorazio, KJZZ senior field correspondent.
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The Future of Navajo Coal Country Panel Discussion
📆 Monday, August 3, 2026
⏰ 6 PM MST (7 PM Navajo Time)
🏫 Conference Center at Rio (2323 W. 14th St)
📍 Tempe, AZ
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This event will be live-streamed on KJZZ’s YouTube channel, visit kjzz.org for more information.
