H.R. 1043: La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act

This bill, known as the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act, proposes to transfer around 3,400 acres of federal land in Arizona to La Paz County. Below are the main provisions of the bill:

Land Conveyance

The Secretary of the Interior is directed to convey this federal land to La Paz County as soon as a request is made by the County. This process will be exempt from certain federal land management planning requirements.

Conditions of Conveyance

The conveyance will include several stipulations:

• Existing Rights: The transfer must respect any existing rights related to the land.
• Terms and Conditions: The Secretary has the authority to impose terms and conditions deemed necessary for the transfer.
• Exclusions: Any federal land that contains significant cultural, environmental, wildlife, or recreational resources will not be included in the conveyance.
• Fair Market Value: La Paz County must pay the fair market value for the land, determined through an appraisal process that meets federal standards.

Protection of Tribal Cultural Artifacts

La Paz County, along with any future owners of the land, must make efforts to:

• Avoid disturbing tribal artifacts.
• Minimize impacts if such artifacts are disturbed.
• Coordinate with the Colorado River Indian Tribes' Tribal Historic Preservation Office to identify significant artifacts.
• Allow tribal representatives to rebury artifacts that are unearthed during any activities on the land.

Public Availability and Corrections

A map detailing the federal land being conveyed will be kept on file at the Bureau of Land Management and made available for public inspection. Minor corrections and adjustments to the land boundaries may also be made by mutual agreement between the Secretary and La Paz County.

Withdrawal from Mining Laws

Upon conveyance, the federal land will be withdrawn from mining and mineral leasing laws, meaning that such activities will no longer be allowed on this land.

Costs Associated with Conveyance

The County will be responsible for paying:

• The appraised value of the land.
• All associated administrative costs of the conveyance, including surveys and appraisals.

Proceeds from Sale

Funds from the sale of the land will be deposited into the Federal Land Disposal Account and will be utilized according to the governing federal laws.

Relevant Companies

• Sungevity (SUNE) - As a player in the solar energy sector, the conveyance of land could potentially provide opportunities for solar energy development projects in La Paz County, impacting their operations or enabling new projects.
• NextEra Energy (NEE) - Being one of the largest producers of renewable energy from wind and solar, NextEra may find opportunities for expansion with the newly available land.
• Enphase Energy (ENPH) - As a company that provides energy solutions including solar energy, the conveyance of this land might affect their potential project locations or developments in the region.