Last week, more than a dozen tribes across the U.S. commented on a new proposal by the Trump administration to let developers obtain preliminary permits for hydropower projects on reservations in spite of tribal opposition.

This rule would apply to projects like dams, reservoirs and pump-storage facilities — all overseen by the independent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which, under a Biden-era rule, does not issue such permits without consent.

The regulator is being asked to change course by Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

“He put tribes in the same sentence as third parties, and what that tells me is that there’s that lack of respect,” said Stewart Koyiyumptewa, who is the Hopi tribal historic preservation officer. “When FERC doesn't notify tribes of potential projects in th

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