La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act
Key claim: The bill directs the Department of the Interior to convey approximately 4,800 acres of Bureau of Land Management land to La Paz County, Arizona, for solar energy development while excluding culturally sensitive acreage and withdrawing the parcel from mineral leasing.
Abstract
(S528 · 117th Congress) La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior, after receiving a request from La Paz County, Arizona, to convey approximately 4,800 acres of identified land managed by the Bureau of Land Management to the county. Interior shall exclude from the conveyance any federal land that contains significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or recreational resources. As a condition of the conveyance, La Paz County and any subsequent owner shall make good faith efforts to avoid disturbing tribal artifacts; minimize impacts on tribal artifacts if they are disturbed; coordinate with the Colorado River Indian Tribes Tribal Historic Preservation Office to identify artifacts of cultural and historic significance; and allow tribal representatives to rebury unearthed artifacts at, or near, where they were discovered. The federal land is withdrawn from the operation of U.S. mining and mineral leasing laws. Latest action (2021-10-19): Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 117-453.
Why this matters
The proposal would shift approximately 4,800 acres from federal management to county ownership for solar development, while limiting the land available through cultural-resource exclusions and mineral-leasing restrictions. For solar developers and builders, it identifies a potential development site, but the bill remains introduced and does not establish that construction will occur. No direct change to housing availability or costs for renters and homebuyers is established by this finding.