The Biden administration is taking steps to spur clean energy development on public lands.
With the goal of developing 25 GW by 2025, the Dept. of Interior will implement a new policy that reduces rents and fees charged for wind and solar projects.
Rents and fees are expected to decrease by over 50% due to lower acreage rents and a standard megawatt fee that promotes more efficient wind and solar or hybrid projects on public lands.
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The agency is also establishing the Renewable Energy Coordination Offices in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices throughout the west to process permits for wind, solar, and geothermal projects.
The Renewable Energy Coordination Offices will also facilitate increased engagement between Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Energy and Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland made the announcement in Las Vegas during a renewable energy roundtable.
Haaland said deploying clean energy projects on public lands is key to achieving President Joe Biden's goal of decarbonizing the electric grid by 2035.
In a recent report to Congress, the BLM identified that the number of megawatts supported in fiscal year 2021 exceeded fiscal year 2020 by 35%. The BLM’s renewable energy accomplishments for fiscal year 2022 are on track to exceed 2021, the agency said.
