Clean energy, Healthy habitat

Authorizing renewable energy development is a priority for the Department of the Interior, and recently announced rules on permitting solar and wind energy along with the ongoing environmental analysis of utility-scale solar development establish the BLM's role in building a clean energy economy. 

Some of the nearly 67 million acres of sagebrush habitat on BLM-managed lands may also hold potential for renewable energy generation or as locations for transmission lines that connect power projects to the grid, sometimes called gen-tie lines. Responsible development means that the BLM is also analyzing the effects of renewable energy and transmission projects on public lands that greater sage-grouse need for their survival. 

The draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on proposed updates to the 2015 plans for managing sage-grouse habitat looks at how we can sustain these multiple uses of public lands now and in the future. 
 


Wind and Solar 

sagebrush with wind turbines in the background
There is concern that wind energy development leads to fragmentation and loss of sagebrush habitat,
increased noise, surface disturbance and collisions with turbine rotor blades. Research suggests that
the birds may be more sensitive to these effects during some stages of their life than in others. | BLM-Oregon
Aerial view of a solar farm
Utility-scale solar power sites use especially large land areas and require a great deal of water,
which may already be scarce. | BLM-California/Jesse Pluim


The draft EIS proposes a range of alternatives for addressing the impacts of wind and solar energy development. Alternative 1 would retain the plans adopted in 2015; Alternative 2 would opt for management under updates made in 2019. 

  • Alternative 3 would close all designated Priority habitat areas to wind and solar projects.
     
  • Under Alternative 4 wind and solar projects would be excluded from Priority habitat areas and avoided in General habitat areas.
     
  • Wind and solar development would avoid Priority habitat under Alternatives 5 and 6. In General habitat developers would have to minimize and compensate for effects where it's not possible to avoid development in Priority habitat. 


Transmission

Transmission lines on land managed by Bureau of Land Management.
Building transmission lines to get electric power to where it’s needed brings surface disturbance, habitat fragmentation and noise.
Once constructed, the towers give avian predators like ravens advantageous places to nest and perch. | BLM-Utah

 

  • New transmission lines would be excluded from Priority habitat areas under Alternative 3.
     
  • Alternative 4 would allow transmission lines in General habitat areas, except in breeding and nesting habitat or within a half-mile of Priority habitat.
     
  • Transmission lines would avoid Priority habitat under Alternatives 5 and 6, while General habitat would be open to projects that minimize or compensate for effects to habitat where it's not possible to avoid development in Priority habitat. 
     


GET INVOLVED |  Review and comment on the draft environmental analysis of proposed options for protecting the greater sage-grouse's habitat on BLM-managed public lands while providing for people's present and future needs. The public comment period is open through June 13, 2024. 

 

Story by:

Heather Feeney, Public Affairs Specialist

Blog Topic:
Sage-grouse
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