Secretary of Energy Chris Wright Orders FERC Rulemaking to Limit Tribal Veto Power on Hydropower Projects

Chris Wright serves as the United States Secretary of Energy, not Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. According to Tribal Business News, on October 23, 2025, Wright directed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to initiate a rulemaking under Section 403 of the Department of Energy Organization Act. This proposed federal rule aims to clarify that applications for preliminary permits on hydropower projects cannot be denied solely due to opposition from third parties, including tribes. Navajo community groups have raised strong concerns, stating the change could weaken tribal input and reopen pathways for three pumped storage hydropower proposals on Navajo Nation land near Kayenta. Those permits were denied by the commission in 2024 following tribal and local opposition. Wright argued in his directive that preliminary permits grant no land-disturbing or property rights and only allow feasibility studies, claiming recent denials based on third-party opposition conflict with federal law. Advocates warn that limiting tribal voice early could lead to catastrophic impacts downstream, especially in areas like Black Mesa already affected by coal mining. No major headlines or decisions from Wright in the last few days as of early April 2026 appear in recent reports. Family Research Council press releases from late March 2026 mention other cabinet figures but not Wright or housing matters. The Department of Housing and Urban Development continues under separate leadership, with no recent news linking Wright to it. Thank you for tuning in, listeners, and please subscribe for more updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.