By Parker Pioneer
Arizona’s two U.S. Senators introduced a bill March 11 that will allow La Paz County to purchase more land for solar power development. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, both Democrats, introduced the “La Paz County Solar Energy and Jobs Creation Act,” which, if passed and signed into law, will allow the county to purchase up to 3,400 more acres of federal lands in eastern Arizona to develop solar power facilities.
The proposal enjoys bi-partisan support in Arizona’s Congressional delegation. A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last month by Representatives Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, all Republicans.
La Paz County wants to develop solar facilities along Interstate 10 in the eastern part of the county. They will tie in to the Ten West Link transmission line, which is currently being built between Arizona and California.
