By Chuck Slothower | The Daily Times
The Navajo Nation and BHP Billiton, owner of Navajo Mine, are close to a deal that would transfer ownership of the coal mine to the tribe, but both sides are waiting for the operator of Four Corners Power Plant to sign a coal supply agreement with the mine.
That hinges on deregulation discussions that are ongoing in the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates electric utilities in that state. Plant operator Arizona Public Service Co., a Phoenix-based utility, said it wants some regulatory certainty from the commission before it enters into a long-term coal deal. The current fuel agreement expires in 2016.
“The commission has not established any kind of timetable for considering deregulation,” said Damon Gross, an APS spokesman. “Of course we will not be able to execute a new fuel agreement that commits Four Corners beyond 2016 until clarity is provided for the Arizona energy market long-term.”
