trending Market Intelligence /marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/tl-xponwhdtmqjie4l577q2 content esgSubNav
In This List

BLM to weigh opening more Calif. federal lands to renewable development

Podcast

Next in Tech | Episode 49: Carbon reduction in cloud

Blog

Using ESG Analysis to Support a Sustainable Future

Research

US utility commissioners: Who they are and how they impact regulation

Blog

Q&A: Datacenters: Energy Hogs or Sustainability Helpers?


BLM to weigh opening more Calif. federal lands to renewable development

As part of the Trump administration's efforts to ease regulatory barriers for the energy sector, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management will consider amending the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan to "seek greater opportunities" for renewable power development on federally managed lands in southern California.

The BLM on Feb. 2 published a notice in the Federal Register to open a 45-day public comment period on possible changes to the plan. The plan, or DRECP, was formed as a collaborative effort among the BLM, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California energy and wildlife regulators to provide adequate protection for desert resources while allowing room for renewable energy projects.

"We need to reduce burdens on all domestic energy development, including solar, wind and other renewables," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Katharine MacGregor. "This process will help us find ways to make more federal land available for renewable energy projects as well as wireless broadband infrastructure."

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife did not respond as of press time to a request for comments on the BLM's new notice, but a representative of the California Energy Commission had strong words on the proposal.

"A wholesale reopening of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan is not going to benefit anyone," Commissioner Karen Douglas said. "In the near term, it will reopen conflicts over renewable energy development, conservation, and other uses of the desert while creating a cloud of uncertainty over the California desert."

Douglas added that the existing DRECP took eight years to develop and included extensive involvement with the public and local and tribal governments. She also said California already is well on the way to meeting its goals of generating 33% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and 50% by 2030.

The DRECP covers 10.8 million acres of BLM lands, but the bureau under former President Barack Obama decided in September 2016 to only make 7% of that property available for renewable energy leasing. The entire planning area spans about 22.6 million acres of both federal and nonfederal lands.

The Federal Register notice begins the public scoping process for potential changes to the DRECP and any related National Environmental Policy Act documents. The BLM will take comments on the notice of intent until March 19 and give at least 15 days notice on the date and locations of any scoping meetings.

The Obama administration's decision to block much of its lands in the DRECP to renewable production drew rebukes from some industry groups, including the Solar Energy Industries Association and Large-Scale Solar Association.

The BLM's reevaluation of the DRECP responds to two executive orders President Donald Trump issued in 2017. One of those orders directed federal agencies to review any actions that may impede production of domestic energy resources, while the other sought to streamline and expedite siting of broadband facilities in rural areas.