La Paz County approves Atlas Solar assignments and lease amendments, fully leasing county solar property

The La Paz County Board of Supervisors approved three related agenda items that transfer and formalize leases for county solar project land. The board consented to an assignment and assumption agreement from Atlas Solar LLC to Atlas Solar II LLC covering 701.539 acres; it approved an Atlas Solar II lease and memorandum covering the same 701.539 acres; and it approved a first amendment to the Atlas Solar 4 lease that adds 1,778.743 acres to that existing lease.
D. L. Wilson, the county’s consultant and acting solar projects manager, explained the items are related and will result in the county’s solar property being fully leased. John Gillespie of Rose Law Group, representing TransGrid Energy (the Atlas Solar parent company), told the board the approvals represent a culmination of long‑running work to develop the parcels and begin revenue generation for the county.
Board members asked about parcel numbering and tax assessment. County counsel and project staff said developers are self‑reporting improvements to the Arizona Department of Revenue and that the assessor’s office does not require separate parcel numbers for assessment; staff said some improvements had been reported but could not confirm whether all projects will be included in this year’s tax roll or next year’s.
The motions to consent to the assignment and approve the leases and amendment passed; county staff noted that, with these approvals, available county solar inventory is exhausted and staff are working to identify additional opportunities.