A panel discussion hosted by KJZZ
When
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.
Join on Aug. 3 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 to extend the life of a New Mexico coal mine — that helps power homes in Phoenix — by more than a century.
The free discussion will be moderated by Gabriel Pietrorazio, KJZZ senior field correspondent. Panelists include Karletta Chief, director of the Indigenous Resilience Center within AIR, nonprofit founding member Nicole Horseherder, nonprofit executive director Robyn Jackson, Alexander Osif with Canyonlands Healthcare, and energy leader Clara Pratte. RSVP to attend and submit your questions for the panel.
WHEN: 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 2026
WHERE: Rio Conference Center, 2323 W. 14th St., Tempe, AZ
RSVP: https://support.fpraz.org/site/Calendar?id=100321&view=Detail
Learn More About the Event and Panelists