15.1.4.040 Findings

The Council hereby finds that:

(a) The Northern Pueblos Housing Authority ("NPHA") is the Tribally Designated Housing Authority ("TDHE") for the Pueblos of Tesuque, Picuris, and San Ildefonso, established by such Pueblos pursuant to § 4(18) and (21) of the Native American Housing and Self Determination Act of 1996, 25 U.S.C. §§ 4401 et seq. ("NAHASDA") for developing, operating, and managing housing units assisted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and

(b) In addition to the environmental benefits, the Pueblo de San Ildefonso is interested in developing solar photovoltaic (PV) opportunities at the Pueblo de San Ildefonso to reduce electric utility costs and/or generate additional revenue to support Tribal programs; and

(c) Tribal Leadership understands that the appropriate step towards developing solar PV opportunities is to hire a qualified consultant to conduct a feasibility assessment to identify and evaluate possible projects; and

(d) The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Department of the Interior Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD), Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) is

soliciting proposals for the Grant Program ("Funding Program") to Assess, Evaluate, and Promote Development of Tribal Energy and Mineral Resources (BIA-000-0009-TEDC); and

(e) The Pueblo de San Ildefonso is committed devoting appropriate resources and coordinating with NPHA and the consultant to facilitate successful completion of the feasibility assessment of solar PV project opportunities at the Pueblo de San Ildefonso; and

(f) The Pueblo de San Ildefonso is willing to consider developing viable solar PV projects, as determined by the completed feasibility assessment.