Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly is taking a step to strengthen Navajo energy policy and development on the Navajo Nation.

President Shelly is scheduled to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Navajo Nation and the National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

“We need to take the lead in developing energy on the Navajo Nation. This MOU is a step toward the Navajo Nation taking control of our energy,” President Shelly said.

The MOU would enhance the ability of the laboratory to provide long-term technical assistance to the Navajo Nation and support tribal needs in energy development and resource management.

“We want to develop our natural resources and this partnership will bring much needed development of policies related to energy development,” President Shelly said.

Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories are the three National Nuclear Security Administration laboratories that are beginning to lay the plan to work with tribes to support the Nation through long-term technical assistance.

The signing ceremony is slated to start 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 1 at the Navajo Nation Museum, Highway 264 and Loop Road in Window Rock, Ariz.

This event is open to the public.

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly responded President Barrack Obama’s State of the Nation’s address Tuesday night.

The following is President Shelly’s statement regarding Obama’s speech.

“This evening the President of the United States issued bold directives to his Administration. I applaud his efforts at reducing bureaucratic red tape and addressing federal inefficiencies within the federal government. The Navajo people appreciates Obama’s message of unity.

“Native American Nations know all too well the bleak economic environment we’ve face. With unemployment numbers on the Navajo Nation consistently in the double digits I am glad to hear the plan to continue paving the way for American companies to invest in America. The rural areas like the Navajo Nation faces, and like many rural areas across this great country, are challenged in attracting and maintaining a manufacturing base. With so many jobs outsourced, our job of creating sustainable economies becomes challenging. The Blue Print for an America Built to Last gives us a method to keep American jobs in America and to give First Americans the chance at those jobs.

“The President’s plan to develop partnerships between community colleges and businesses to provide necessary training, I welcome that. I hope that this plan will be include the 27 tribal colleges, two of which are here on the Navajo Nation, so we can provide training to mobilize the Navajo workforce.

Lastly, I like President Obama’s statement of clean energy development while utilizing and developing our existing natural resources in the most efficient and environmentally friendly ways possible. The Navajo Nation has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources and we call on the President to work with the Navajo Nation help us work at building an America and a Navajo Nation Built to Last.”

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly called for the Navajo leaders to set aside differences and work together.

The President said called for unity during his State of the Navajo Nation address Monday.

“As leaders let’s honor and respect each other. We can debate issues and disagree. We’ll always face opposition, but we must work for the betterment of the people and the Nation,” he said as he closed his speech.

President Shelly also called for a Legislative and Executive Branch Summit to focus on the needs of the Navajo people.

“I propose a Legislative and Executive Branch Summit to discuss growth, and how we can make government more responsive in meeting the needs of the people,” the President said.

President Shelly delivered his speech in English and in Navajo, which began shortly after the 22^nd Navajo Nation Council approved the winter session agenda.

After his speech, the President faced multiple rounds of questions from Council Delegates regarding several issues from chapter funding to the status of Navajo Head Start.

Though the President answered all the questions asked by the Council Delegates, the President extended an open invitation to the Delegates for future meetings.

“My door is open,” President Shelly said.

President Shelly also announced that he would have a series of town hall meetings in the Utah area to discuss the Navajo Utah Trust Fund and to gain insight to Utah Navajo wants about the fund.

“I want my marching orders to come from them,” he said.

The meetings are scheduled to start in February.

President Shelly also announced a new policy that he plans to unveil during the Navajo Nation Council’s Spring Session.

The President plans to bring forth the Navajo Nation Energy Policy, which would create an Energy Office within the Navajo Nation.

The office would regulate renewable and nonrenewable energy development and distribution.

“We are the first sovereign nation with a developed Energy Policy, which will reflect today’s technologies,” President Shelly said.

Also, the President announced a working solution that was recently put in place to create a safer environment for residents and travelers along Hwy. 550 in northwest New Mexico.

The Navajo Nation, the State of New Mexico and San Juan County Sheriff’s Office agreed to increase patrols and provide personnel for the Dzil-Nao-Dithle Police Substation.

President Shelly also spoke about the opening of the Northern Edge Casino in Upper Fruitland.

“This business venture brought 374 new jobs to the Four Corners region,” the President stated.

The President added the Twin Arrows Casino and Resort is scheduled to open in 2013. Twin Arrows is near Flagstaff and would be the Navajo Nation’s fourth gaming enterprise.

President Shelly also reminded the Council of a shared vision of unity when the President gave his inaugural State of the Navajo Nation address.

“It’s important that we keep our commitment to the work ahead and where we all want to be, a strong, confident nation,” the President said.