What are the drawbacks to tribal energy development?
According to David Lester of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT), the main drawback to tribal energy development deals with funding and taxation. Many tribes tax non-tribal businesses when they operate on tribal lands. Additionally, states can tax non-tribal businesses even when they operate on tribal lands. Therefor, there is very little incentive for outside business to enter such contracts and projects. As a result, some states, such as Montana, are working on legislation to end dual taxation.
