Navajo Nation Places Solar Lease Addendum on Committee Calendar

On Dec. 29, 2025 the Navajo Nation Council added Legislation 0269-25 to its legislative docket, identifying the measure as “An Action Relating to Resources and Development Committee; Approving an Addendum to RDCJY-28-25, the Painted Desert Power Solar Site Lease for Painted Desert Power, LLC.” The council’s public legislation tracker places the bill in the Resources and Development Committee and marks it eligible for committee action beginning that date.

The addendum amends an existing solar site lease for Painted Desert Power, LLC. While the legislation packet posted to the council’s public index provides the official text and scheduling, the measure’s placement on the committee calendar signals the start of formal committee-level consideration. The Resources and Development Committee is responsible for examining land, lease and development proposals before they move to full council consideration.

For residents and officials in Apache County the item is significant because the lease and its addendum concern lands, leases and development matters relevant to Navajo Nation communities and neighboring counties, including areas within or adjacent to Apache County. Changes to lease terms or site development approvals can influence local land use patterns, coordination among tribal and county authorities, and the permitting and oversight obligations that accompany utility-scale solar projects.

The committee stage is where detailed scrutiny often occurs: members may request additional information, seek input from affected communities, and recommend conditions or amendments before advancing a measure to the full council. Fiscal, environmental and tribal sovereignty implications typically shape committee deliberations on energy leases; decisions at that level can determine project timelines and the scope of coordination with neighboring jurisdictions.

Transparency and public involvement will shape how this addendum proceeds. Residents, local officials and tribal delegates have an opportunity to monitor committee scheduling and review the legislative packet to assess proposed changes to lease terms, mitigation provisions, and any proposed roles for Navajo Nation communities in oversight or benefit-sharing. Close attention to the committee record will be necessary to track amendments and the rationale behind them.

The legislation and its full packet are posted on the Navajo Nation Council’s public legislation tracker and legislation page, where committee scheduling and related documents are listed. As the Resources and Development Committee takes up Legislation 0269-25, its actions will determine whether the addendum advances, is modified, or is returned to the docket for further work.