Former Moapa Band chairman William Anderson passes on at age 44

Friday, February 2, 2018  

William Milton Anderson, a former chairman of the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, passed away on January 28. He was 44.

Anderson led the tribe in its successful battle to shut down a coal-fired power plant next to the reservation in Nevada. Residents blamed a slew of health and environmental issues on pollution from the facility.

"My neighbors and I feel coal pollution up close. Our children and elders suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments, and that makes the issue immediate and personal.," Anderson wrote in Indian Country Today on December 2011. "Emissions from coal plants have been linked to lung disease, premature death, heart disease and asthma, according to the Harvard Medical School."

Anderson also took the tribe in a dramatically new direction when it comes to energy development. The reservation is home to three solar power projects thanks to the efforts.

He also was a champion for the Gold Butte National Monument, Chris Jordan-Bloch, a multimedia producer for the environmental firm Earthjustice wrote in a memorial. The Trump administration has considered shrinking the boundaries of the monument, over the tribe's objections.

"In his final days he worked to protect thousands of Paiute artifacts and historical sites by getting southeast Nevada’s Gold Butte declared a national monument," Jordan-Bloch wrote. Earthjustice worked with Anderson and the tribe on its efforts against the coal-fired power plant.

Funeral services took place Friday on the reservation.

Read More on the Story:
In Memoriam by Chris Jordan-Bloch: William Anderson (Earthjustice February 1, 2018)
William Milton Anderson, ex-Moapa tribal chairman, dies at 44 (The Las Vegas Review-Journal February 1, 2018)
Moapa tribal leader who led charge against Reid Gardner coal plant dies at 44 (The Las Vegas Sun February 1, 2018)
Former chairman of Moapa Band of Paiutes dead at 44 (The Associated Press February 1, 2018)

Secretary Zinke goes against tribal interests with monument recommendations (September 18, 2017)
Moapa Band wins federal approval for another solar energy plant (September 16, 2016)
Moapa Band clears hurdle for another solar project on reservation (March 10, 2016)
Moapa Band clears hurdle for another solar project on reservation (March 10, 2016)
Moapa Band reaches $4.3M settlement for power plant pollution (July 31, 2015)
Moapa Band loses bid for $438M solar facility on reservation (October 31, 2014)
Opinion: Help Moapa Band bring solar energy to more consumers (October 28, 2014)
Al Jazeera: Moapa Band blames coal plant for health problems (April 30, 2014)
Column: Moapa Band makes good deal for solar energy panels (April 10, 2014)
Moapa Band celebrates completion of $2.4M solar power project (April 8, 2014)
Moapa Band set to start construction on big solar power plant (August 14, 2013)
Moapa Band sues energy company over waste at power facility (August 9, 2013)
White House Blog: Moapa Band turns to renewable energy (June 26, 2013)
Moapa Band hosts 16-mile walk to promote renewable energy (April 23, 2013)
Moapa Band to file second lawsuit over coal-fired power plant (March 26, 2013)
Moapa Band files lawsuit over EPA standards at coal fired plant (October 23, 2012)
Moapa Band plans another solar energy project on reservation (August 29, 2012)
Blog: Moapa Band solar energy project promises employment (July 19, 2012)
Indian Country is disproportionately impacted by energy facilities (July 5, 2012)
Moapa Band starts 50-mile walk to protest power plant (April 20, 2012)
Blog: Moapa Band battles pollution at coal-fired power plant (February 15, 2012)
William Anderson: Moapa Band deals with power plant pollution (December 5, 2011)
Moapa Band sues to stop expansion of landfill at power plant (October 11, 2011)