The Bureau of Land Administration (BLM) has introduced its proposed roadmap for photo voltaic power growth on public lands throughout the West.
The BLM hopes the discharge of the Remaining Utility-Scale Photo voltaic Vitality Programmatic Environmental Impression Assertion and Proposed Useful resource Administration Plan Amendments (often known as the proposed up to date Western Photo voltaic Plan) will help continued progress on accountable allowing.
The plan would make 31 million acres of public lands throughout 11 western states accessible for potential photo voltaic growth, driving growth nearer to transmission traces or on beforehand disturbed lands and avoiding protected lands, delicate cultural assets and necessary wildlife habitat.
Steering mission proposals away from areas the place they might battle with different assets or makes use of is anticipated to assist guarantee accountable growth and pace up the allowing course of.
The plan updates and expands the unique 2012 Western Photo voltaic Plan with a view to mirror modifications in expertise and meet the upper demand for photo voltaic power growth. This plan analyzes Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming, along with the six states analyzed within the authentic plan.
“The up to date Western Photo voltaic Plan is a accountable, pragmatic technique for growing photo voltaic power on our nation’s public lands that helps nationwide clear power targets and long-term nationwide power safety,” says BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning.
“It would drive accountable photo voltaic growth to areas with fewer potential conflicts whereas serving to the nation transition to a clear power economic system, furthering the BLM’s mission to maintain the well being, variety and productiveness of public lands for the use and pleasure of current and future generations.”
No photo voltaic developments are licensed via this planning effort. Proposed tasks will nonetheless bear site-specific environmental evaluation and public remark. This Remaining Utility-Scale Photo voltaic Vitality Programmatic Environmental Impression Assertion follows a draft revealed in January for public remark.
In whole, BLM has now permitted clear power tasks on public lands with a complete capability of 29 GW.
