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Bureau of land management solar energy zones

About | Solar Energy Zones™

Solar Energy Zones™ provides data on the locations and status of solar energy leases on public land. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grants individuals and companies solar power leasing rights on public land. Solar Energy Zones™ is a source to see where these solar energy leases are and have been. Solar Energy Zones™ is your

Riverside East Solar Energy Zone (SEZ)

The Riverside East Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) is a designated leasing area (DLA) located in California on BLM-administered land within the Palm Springs South Coast Field Office. In the 2012 Solar PEIS, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) committed to establishing a solar regional mitigation strategy for each solar energy zone (SEZ). These

Variance Areas

Variance areas are made up of Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-administered lands in the six-state 2012 Western Solar Plan area that are outside of solar energy zones (SEZs) (now designated leasing areas) and not otherwise excluded from development under the 2012 Western Solar Plan. The BLM will consider right-of-way (ROW) applications for utility-scale solar energy

Bureau of Land Management Utah issues first competitive solar

CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cedar City Field Office is awarding leases to Minersville Solar Energy, LLC for three parcels encompassing more than 4,800 acres of BLM-managed public lands capable of providing clean, renewable energy in its first competitive bid solar lease sale. The company plans to build solar energy facilities on

Competitive Leasing

Competitive Leasing In 2017, the BLM updated its regulations (43 CFR 2800) for wind and solar authorizations on public lands. The regulations promote the use of designated leasing areas, preferred areas for renewable energy development that include the BLM''s Solar Energy Zones, Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Development Focus Areas, Restoration Design

Imperial East Solar Energy Zone (SEZ)

In May 2016, the BLM released the Riverside East Solar Energy Zone Long Term Monitoring Strategy Final Report. The monitoring strategy document (PDF, 16.6 MB) is now available. Mitigation Strategy. In the 2012 Solar PEIS, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) committed to establishing a solar regional mitigation strategy for each solar energy

Maps of Areas Identified in the 2012 Western Solar Plan

As described in the 2012 Western Solar Plan, all utility-scale solar energy development must be in conformance with the exclusions adopted through the 2012 Western Solar Plan and the associated land use plan amendments. Variance areas may have changed and/or change in the future as Land Use Plans are amended to adopt new exclusion areas.

BLM to Host Competitive Auction for Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone

Las Vegas, Nevada – As part of the Obama Administration''s strategy to spur renewable energy development on public lands and the President''s comprehensive plan to cut carbon pollution and create jobs, the Bureau of Land Management will host a competitive auction for public lands in the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone in Clark County, Nevada on June 30, 2014.

Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District Office | Solar Energy Zones™

Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District Office oversees 10 solar energy leases under the New Mexico State Office—4 pending and 6 closed Solar Energy Zones™ makes no warranty, expressed or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for

2023/2024 Solar Programmatic EIS

The Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final Programmatic EIS) and Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendments (Proposed RMPA) for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development is now available on the BLM National NEPA Register (ePlanning). The Final Programmatic EIS and Proposed RMPA seek to update the Bureau of Land Management

Variance Process for Solar Energy Applications

Variance areas are BLM-administered lands identified in the 2012 Western Solar Plan as potentially available to applications for utility-scale solar energy rights-of-way with special stipulations or considerations that are outside of exclusion areas and SEZs, except where those allocations have been superseded by subsequent BLM land use planning decisions (e.g. the

Solar Energy In Arizona | Solar Energy Zones™

Arizona has 107 solar energy leases on public land listed in Solar Energy Zones™. Of these leases, 6.54% are authorized while 72.9% are now closed. Information hosted on Solar Energy Zones™ is based on publicly available data through the Bureau of Land Management. Solar Energy Zones™ accepts no liability for the content of this data

Bureau of Land Management solicits interest in solar development

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced it is soliciting interest for utility-scale solar energy development on nearly 90,000 acres of public land located across Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. Today''s solicitation is the agency''s largest for solar development interest since it designated 17 solar energy zones in a comprehensive 2012 solar

Bureau of Land Management releases proposed

The BLM today announced its proposed roadmap for solar energy development on public lands, designed to expand efficient and environmentally responsible solar project permitting on public lands across the West.

BLM to Host Competitive Auction for Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone

Las Vegas – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host a competitive auction for public lands in the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone at the City of North Las Vegas Council Chambers on June 30. Bidder check-in begins at 9 a.m. and the auction will commence at 10 a.m.The sealed and oral bid auction will select preferred applicants to submit right-of-way

BLM issues leases for Amargosa Valley Solar Energy Zone

RENO, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management has issued two new leases in the Amargosa Valley Solar Energy Zone in Nevada, which will allow the leaseholder to proceed with next steps in the development of utility-scale solar energy.

BLM to Host First-Ever Competitive Auction to Develop Solar Energy

WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration''s strategy to spur renewable energy development on public lands and reduce carbon emissions, the Bureau of Land Management will host the first competitive auction for public lands in two Solar Energy Zones in Colorado on Oct. 24.

Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone''s MGM Mega Array comes online

Story by Kirsten Cannon, Public Affairs Specialist. Photos courtesy of MGM Resorts. On June 28, BLM Nevada celebrated the MGM Resorts Mega Solar Array beginning to bring renewable energy online. The Mega Solar Array is owned and constructed by Invenergy and AEP Renewables and is within the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone on 715 acres of BLM-managed

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land

Bureau of Land Management [22X.LLAZ920000 L13400000.KH0000] Notice of Competitive Offer for Solar Energy Development on Public Lands in the State of Arizona AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. interest to lease lands within each of its Solar Energy Zones (SEZ). The BLM will offer

Bureau of Land Management Lease Sale Information De Tilla

Bureau of Land Management Lease Sale Information De Tilla Gulch Solar Energy Zone Saguache County, Colorado How will the sale be conducted? The sale will be conducted by a live auction on Thursday, April 27, 2023. The De Tilla Gulch Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) is being offered as one parcel totaling 1,064 acres. All bids are received verbally.

BLM offers 23,675 acres for solar energy development in

LAS VEGAS – As part of the Biden-Harris administration''s goal to permit 25 gigawatts of renewable energy on public lands by 2025 and achieve a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, the Bureau of Land Management today announced it is auctioning four parcels totaling 23,675 acres for utility-scale solar energy development in the Amargosa Desert in Nye

Renewable Energy Strategy

The BLM National Renewable Energy Strategy Ramping up renewable energy deployment on America''s public lands is a key step toward meeting the Biden-Harris Administration''s goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, as well as Congress''s direction to seek to permit at least 25 gigawatts of solar, wind and geothermal energy production on public lands no later

Renewable Energy

Through the Western Solar Plan, the BLM committed to preparing monitoring strategies for Solar Energy Zones to better understand the impacts of solar development on public lands. The BLM''s monitoring efforts ensure that data and lessons learned about the impacts of solar energy projects will be collected, reviewed, and, as appropriate

Brenda Solar Energy Zone (SEZ)

Technical Suitability. The nearest major road access is via U.S. 60, which runs along the southeast border of the Brenda SEZ. For the Brenda SEZ, the nearest existing transmission line is a 500-kV east-west line located about 12 mi (19 km) south of the SEZ, and there is a designated transmission corridor adjacent to the southern SEZ boundary.

Renewable Energy

Projects as of September 2024. The BLM has surpassed the goal of permitting 25 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy projects on public lands. As of September 2024, BLM has permitted 69 geothermal, 63 solar, 41 wind, and 42 renewable energy gen-tie projects (transmission lines that cross public lands to connect renewable energy projects that have been developed on private

Solar Resource Maps and Data | Geospatial Data

Find and download solar resource map images and geospatial data for the United States and the Americas. For more information on NREL''s solar resource data development, see the National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB).

Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone Auction Selects Three Potential Developers

Las Vegas –The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today sought competitive bids to develop solar energy projects on up to approximately 3,083 acres of public land in the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone (SEZ), located 15 miles northeast of Las Vegas.Parcel NumberSizeMinimum Bid

Interior Department Approves First Solar Energy Zone Projects

As part of the Obama Administration''s comprehensive Climate Action Plan to create American jobs, develop domestic clean energy resources, and cut carbon pollution, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today held a competitive auction for renewable energy on public lands in the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone in Clark County, Nevada.

Bureau of land management solar energy zones [PDF]

6 FAQs about [Bureau of land management solar energy zones]

Does the BLM have a plan for solar energy development?

What is the BLM's new Western Solar Plan?

On August 29, 2024 the BLM announced its proposed updated Western Solar Plan, designed to ensure efficient and environmentally responsible solar energy project permitting on public lands across the West. For more information, read our frequently asked questions or visit the ePlanning project page.

Are solar energy development projects permitted on BLM-managed public lands?

Solar energy development projects on BLM-managed public lands are authorized as rights-of-way under Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended consistent with appropriate BLM land-use plans. Regulations at 43 CFR 2800 identify requirements for solar development application and permitting.

Are BLM public lands a good source of energy?

Significant portions of BLM public lands have excellent solar, wind, and geothermal energy potential, and the BLM works to provide appropriate sites for environmentally sound development of renewable energy. The BLM is currently processing 41 utility-scale onshore clean energy projects proposed on public lands in the western United States.

What information is available on the BLM's solar energy permitting Resources website?

Relevant information on this website is in the process of being updated. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared this website to provide Solar Energy Permitting Resources to aid BLM staff, solar energy developers, other regulators, and the public in understanding: Information on activities and initiatives related to BLM's Solar Program.

Should solar projects be located on public lands?

Additionally, laws enacted in many western states require energy companies to supply a portion of their energy from renewable sources. As a result, the BLM is seeing continued interest by solar developers to locate projects on public lands.

Solar Energy Resources