Biden Administration Unveils Plans to Facilitate Solar Development in Western U.S.

The Biden administration has presented a comprehensive proposal aimed at significantly expanding public lands for streamlined solar development across the Western United States. This strategic move is anticipated to support the growing momentum of solar energy projects across the nation.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently disclosed a proposal to update the 2012 Western Solar Plan, outlining multiple initiatives to simplify the permitting process for utility-scale solar projects. The proposal identifies optimal lands for large solar developments in 11 states, striving to strike a balance between conservation efforts and the industry’s requirements. This initiative is part of a broader shift in managing the nation’s 245 million acres of public land, redirecting land use from fossil fuel production to clean energy development while prioritizing conservation.

Aaron Weiss, Deputy Director of the Center for Western Priorities, emphasized the significance of good planning for public lands to play a pivotal role in America’s energy transition. The proposal has been welcomed by solar industry groups, positioning it as a crucial step toward expediting the construction of solar projects on public lands and ensuring equitable treatment alongside industries traditionally reliant on public lands, such as oil and gas.

The updated plan involves modifying the resource management plans of each of the 11 states, serving as blueprints for public land management. The goal is to facilitate solar energy development while avoiding resource conflicts, offering developers flexibility in adjusting their plans. Despite these positive steps, some critics argue that the plan may overly prioritize industry concerns over potential environmental threats, particularly to undisturbed lands across the Western U.S.

The public comment period for the proposal remains open until April 18, with the final rule for the updated Western Solar Plan expected later this year. The plan’s three designations for federal public lands—solar energy zones, areas considered for solar projects, and regions excluded from solar development—remain part of the update.

By prioritizing 22 million acres of public land within 10 miles of transmission lines across the 11 states, the BLM aims to address one of the primary challenges for renewable energy development: the availability of transmission infrastructure. The agency’s environmental assessment, supported by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, indicates that approximately 700,000 acres of federal land will be required to meet the nation’s renewable energy goals.

While the plan opens up public lands in five additional states for solar development, not all available land may be utilized. The BLM’s approach is viewed as a testing ground for system-wide zoning and land-use planning, potentially guiding similar initiatives at the state and national levels. The upcoming updates to the Western Solar Plan are part of a series of rule changes from the BLM, emphasizing a holistic approach to public land regulation.

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