Green or not, US energy future depends on Native nations

Native American lands contain 30% of the nation’s coal, 50% of its uranium and 20% of its natural gas, as well as copper, lithium and rare earth elements.

By: Charles Prior, University of Birmingham, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 11, 2026

Words: 1,342

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Charles Prior, University of Birmingham

The Trump administration’s drive to increase domestic production of fossil fuels and mining of key minerals likely cannot be accomplished without a key constituency: Native nations.

The U.S. has 374 treaties with 574 governments of sovereign nations inside the United States’ borders, governing 2.5% of the country’s territory, predominantly west of the Mississippi.

Native American tribal lands contain 30% of the nation’s coal, …

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