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On Thursday, the Bureau of Land Management released its final Renewable Energy Rule, which updates regulations to incentivize and expedite wind and solar energy development on national public lands. The rule codifies lower acreage rental and capacity fees and provides for a streamlined process for renewable energy development in identified priority areas.
The final rule comes on the heels of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s milestone announcement that the Biden administration has surpassed its goal of permitting 25 gigawatts of renewable energy on public lands by 2025. The rule also supports the national goal of transitioning to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2035.
The BLM is also in the process of updating the Western Solar Plan—formally known as the Solar Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement—which will provide an up-front land use planning process for the agency and stakeholders to identify areas that are most suitable for large-scale solar development and areas that are least suitable due to the need to protect other resources and values.
“As the U.S. accelerates its transition to clean energy, it’s important to recognize that there are areas where it makes sense to incentivize the rapid and extensive development of renewable energy and areas where it doesn’t,” said Center for Western Priorities Policy Director Rachael Hamby. “Paired with the up-front planning in the draft Western Solar Plan, the Renewable Energy Rule will help the BLM advance renewable energy development in areas where it will have the greatest benefits for communities and our climate with the least harm to wildlife and nature.”
Biden to expand two national monuments in California
President Joe Biden is expected to use the Antiquities Act to expand two national monuments in California, the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. Once designated, these expansions will put him just 100,000 acres away from solidifying his position as the president with the most acres of public land protected in their first term in modern history.
The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument expansion will include 109,000 acres of the Angeles National Forest, increasing outdoor accessibility for 18 million people that live in Greater Los Angeles. The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument expansion will add Molok Luyuk, a 4,000-acre area sacred to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. Molok Luyuk boasts some of the state's most fascinating geology and rich plant diversity.
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We haven't seen Congress move this kind of legislation forward in the way that maybe we used to see in a more productive past, so using the tools that the president has to expand the national monument presents an incredible opportunity to preserve this place now and for future generations.”
