BLM announces Cove Fort geothermal lease sale results in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY – The Bureau of Land Management held a competitive geothermal lease sale yesterday, offering three parcels totaling 6,061 acres within Fishlake National Forest in Beaver and Millard counties. In total, one parcel covering 1,677.73 acres sold for $6,912.
For each parcel leased, 50% of the bid, rental receipts, and subsequent royalties will go to the State of Utah, 25% goes to the county where the lease is located, and the remaining 25% goes to the U.S. Treasury.
Geothermal energy is a renewable resource that generates baseload electricity with minimal carbon emissions. It is an abundant resource, especially in the West, where the BLM has authority to manage geothermal leasing on approximately 245 million acres of public lands and 104 million acres of U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service lands. Geothermal energy can also be used to heat buildings, operate greenhouses, and support aquaculture operations.
Since January 2021, BLM has approved 45 renewable energy projects on public lands (11 solar, 14 geothermal, 2 wind, and 18 gen-ties) and exceeded the goal to permit 25 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2025. Overall, BLM has permitted clean energy projects on public lands with a total capacity of more than 33 gigawatts – enough to power more than 15 million homes. This year BLM also issued a final Renewable Energy Rule that will lower consumer energy costs and the cost of developing solar and wind projects, improve project application processes, create jobs, and incentivize developers to continue responsibly developing solar and wind projects on public lands.
The Notice of Competitive Lease Sale and proposed lease stipulations are available online at the BLM National NEPA Register. Please contact Nathan Packer at npacker@blm.gov for more information.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.