By Reagan Priest | Yellow Sheet
A state budget deal may have been reached, but railbirds say Republican lawmakers are pushing poison pill provisions in their negotiations over the future of the Arizona State Land Department.
The agency, which has become a punching bag this session for Republicans hoping to promote mining and grazing interests over renewable energy projects, will sunset at the end of this year without action from the Legislature. Now, according to an email obtained by the Yellow Sheet Report, lawmakers are attempting to restrict the development of clean energy development on state trust land.
According to the email, Sen. Tim Dunn has been working with stakeholders on amendments to House Bill 2150Track which would extend the ASLD’s statutory life by four years. But the proposed changes, which have not yet been introduced in an amendment, institute a moratorium on solar and wind projects on state trust land until Jan. 1, 2029.
