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New Federal Revenue Sharing Solar Projects = Tax-Free Revenue for Nye County What Changed on January 1, 2026? Congress passed a major reform (H.R. 1, Title VIII, Section 80182) that changes how revenue from solar and wind projects on federal land is distributed: BEFORE (Until Dec 31, 2025) AFTER (Jan 1, 2026) 100% of revenue → U.S. Treasury 0% to Nye County 50% → U.S. Treasury 25% → Nye County 25% → State of Nevada For the first time ever, host counties like Nye County will receive a guaranteed share of revenue from solar projects on nearby BLM land. What This Means for Nye County Current Solar Project: Crescent Dunes (110 MW) is currently generating electricity on BLM land in Nye County. Expected First Payment: Nye County should receive its first payment in 2026 from Crescent Dunes—estimated between tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, depending on the BLM revenue sharing formula, electricity production and prices. Guaranteed Income: This is recurring revenue for the life of the project (typically 20-25 years)—not a one-time grant. Tax-Free Revenue: This money comes directly to the county without raising property taxes. The Future Potential: Millions of dollars annually Nye County has 18.93 gigawatts (GW) of proposed solar projects in BLM's approval queue. If these projects are responsibly approved and built, Nye County could receive millions of dollars annually. Note: Not all proposed projects will be approved. BLM conducts rigorous environmental and siting reviews, prioritizing previously disturbed lands and minimizing impacts to wildlife, habitat, and communities. The Problem: Federal Approval Freeze In July 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management paused approvals for large-scale solar projects on federal land. While Congress acted to share revenue with counties, federal agencies have not resumed approvals. Every month of delay = lost revenue that could fund law enforcement, emergency services, road maintenance, and other essential county services. ---PAGE BREAK--- What Can Be Done? The solution is straightforward: The Department of the Interior should resume approvals for large-scale solar projects under existing environmental and siting laws. This allows: ✓ Counties to receive the revenue Congress promised ✓ Thorough environmental review to continue ✓ Responsible siting with meaningful local input Long-Term Planning: Permanent Funds Counties with significant natural resource revenue can establish permanent funds—investment funds that provide long-term, multigenerational financial stability. Example: Lea County, New Mexico created a $120 million permanent fund from oil and gas revenues. The fund's returns support county services year after year, even when commodity prices drop. Solar revenue from BLM land could help Nye County build similar long-term financial security—funding essential services, infrastructure, and economic development for decades to come. Why This Matters for Nye County 98% of Nye County is federal land. Because public land cannot be taxed, the county has limited ways to generate revenue. Federal revenue sharing from solar projects provides predictable, recurring income to support deputies, maintain roads, fund emergency services, and strengthen the county—without raising property taxes. Revenue sharing on federal land is not new. Western counties already rely on Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and mineral revenue sharing. Solar energy should work the same way. About Solar United Neighbors of Nevada Solar United Neighbors (SUN) of Nevada supports responsibly sited large-scale solar projects that benefit communities. We believe federal revenue sharing, developer agreements, community benefit agreements, and permanent funds are important tools that provide long-term financial security for host counties. Responsible siting means: • Thorough environmental review • Prioritizing previously disturbed lands and existing rights-of-way • Minimizing impacts to desert ecosystems, wildlife, and communities • Meaningful local input throughout the process Questions? Want to learn more? Contact Solar United Neighbors (SUN) of Nevada at [EMAIL REDACTED]. This flyer is for informational purposes only. Revenue estimates are based on available data and may vary based on actual electricity production, market prices, and BLM regulations.