Navajo Bidding to Buy Massive Power Plant and Coal Mine

The Navajo Nation has emerged as a serious bidder for the biggest coal-fired power plant in the West—set to close at the end of the year—and the nearby coal mine that feeds it.

But the tribe faces strong headwinds with new political leadership taking over its legislative branch that’s far less hospitable to the 2,250-megawatt Navajo Generating Station, near Page, Ariz.

The Navajo Transitional Energy Company, a wholly owned limited liability company of the Navajo Nation, is “in active negotiations” with NGS’ current owners, said Erny Zah, a spokesman with the company.

NTEC’s plan is to create a vertically ...