The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently unveiled its proposed strategy for solar energy development on public lands. The proposed updated Western Solar Plan, released alongside the Final Utility-Scale Solar Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, will expand availability of applications for utility-scale solar development across 31 million acres of public lands in 11 western states.
“We commend BLM for adopting a strategic approach to accelerating clean energy development on public lands,” said Nicole Pavia, Clean Energy Infrastructure Deployment Director at Clean Air Task Force (CATF). “By steering solar development to areas with existing or planned transmission infrastructure and prioritizing previously degraded lands, this plan will help ensure that clean energy projects move forward without compromising the health of ecosystems. It’s a critical step toward realizing the full potential of clean energy on U.S. public lands while also protecting communities from the worsening impacts of climate change.”
This plan is a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, which aims to transition the country to a 100% clean electricity grid by 2035. Earlier this year, CATF submitted comments to BLM recommending that the agency expand access beyond proximity to transmission infrastructure to also make previously degraded lands available. The updated plan adopted this key recommendation from CATF, allowing solar applications on lands either near existing or planned transmission infrastructure or on previously disturbed lands.
Federal lands can play a crucial role in achieving U.S. climate targets through clean energy deployment and carbon storage. CATF analysis also finds that the potential for clean energy on federal lands, particularly those managed by BLM, far exceeds current targets. The Department of the Interior has already exceeded the goal of 25 gigawatts of permitted renewable energy on public lands by 2025, and CATF’s analysis found there is ample potential on those lands for increased clean energy ambition.
CATF’s Land Systems and Clean Energy Infrastructure Deployment programs continue to support efforts to responsibly expand clean energy infrastructure across the U.S. We look forward to federal agencies continuing to support clean energy deployment while minimizing impacts to communities and the environment.