Recently, The US Department of the Interior said it has surpassed the goal to permit 25 GW of renewable energy on public lands ahead of 2025 and has now permitted nearly 29 GW of clean energy.
The Alta Wind Energy Centre in California. Image by: US Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The milestone includes solar, wind and geothermal projects, as well as gen-tie lines on public lands that are important for connecting clean power projects on both federal and non-federal land.
The department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is also currently processing permits for another 32 GW of clean energy projects on public lands in the western US.
In addition, it was announced that the Arica and Victory Pass solar projects in California, totalling 465 MW, are now fully operational, meaning that over 10 GW of clean energy is now being generated on public lands.
BLM further said it has finalised a rule to additionally facilitate solar and wind energy development on public lands. The final Renewable Energy Rule will reduce capacity fees by 80% and foster development in priority areas by streamlining application review.
Renewables Now