BLM to host live auction for solar energy lease in New Mexico
LAS CRUCES, NM – In support of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to achieve a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, the Bureau of Land Management is offering one parcel in the Afton Solar Energy Zone in Doña Ana County for lease through a live competitive auction.
Bidding will take place at 10 a.m. Nov. 14, 2024, at the BLM Las Cruces District Office, located at 1800 Marques Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005. Interested bidders are required to pre-register for the competitive live auction on or before Nov. 1, 2024, at the BLM National NEPA Register. The bid statement format and a complete description of the bid process and detailed information about the Afton Solar Energy Zone can be found at that link.
Due to capacity limits, only registered bidders and essential BLM staff will be allowed in the auction room. Registered bidders will be allowed one accompanying guest (alternate bidder), space permitting.
BLM’s auction announcement is a result of extensive planning efforts between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy to pave the way for utility-scale solar energy development on public lands. The Western Solar Plan, approved in October 2012, created Solar Energy Zones, such as the Afton Solar Energy Zone, in locations with substantial potential to produce utility-scale solar energy and low potential for land use, natural resource, or cultural resource conflicts.
This auction responds to significant development interest in the zone. A call for nominations or expressions of interest published in the Federal Register received information from multiple potential developers, leading the BLM to pursue a competitive auction process.
BLM manages vast stretches of public lands with the potential to make significant contributions to the nation’s renewable energy portfolio and provides sites for environmentally sound renewable energy projects.
To date, the Biden-Harris administration has approved 41 renewable energy projects on public lands (10 solar, 13 geothermal, and 18 gen-ties), allowing for early achievement of the goal to permit 25 gigawatts by 2025. In total, BLM has now permitted clean energy projects on public lands with a total capacity of approximately 29 gigawatts of power – enough to power over 12 million homes.
For more information about the competitive bid process, please contact BLM Afton Solar Project Manager Paula Montez at 575-525-4387 or pmontez@blm.gov.
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.