Renewable Energy

Achieving Major Milestones

The BLM has surpassed the goal of permitting 25 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy projects on public lands. As of November 2024, BLM has permitted 70 geothermal, 63 solar, 41 wind, and 42 renewable energy gen-tie projects (transmission lines that cross public lands to connect renewable energy projects that have been developed on private lands to the grid). Combined, these projects have a total capacity of approximately 30 GW of power—enough to power over 12 million homes. Deployment of these clean energy projects is crucial to achieving the Biden Administration’s goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035.

Latest Updates

• On December 19, 2024 the BLM and DOI approved its updated Western Solar Plan to help guide efficient and environmentally responsible solar energy permitting on public lands across the West. The signed Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments completes a multi-year planning effort that will guide siting of solar energy proposals to areas with fewer resource conflicts. For more information, visit the project ePlanning page.

• On October 22, 2024, the BLM and DOI published a proposal to establish a new Geothermal Resource Confirmation Categorical Exclusion for a 30-day public comment period that closed on November 22, 2024. Refer to the Federal Register notice (89 FR 84380). The BLM is reviewing comments received and will publish a final notice in the coming weeks.

• The final Renewable Energy Rule promoting responsible solar and wind energy development on public lands went into effect on July 1, 2024.

Expanding Renewable Energy

Significant portions of BLM public lands have excellent solar, wind, and geothermal energy potential, and the BLM works to provide appropriate sites for environmentally sound development of renewable energy.

The BLM is currently processing 71 utility-scale onshore clean energy projects proposed on public lands in the western United States. This includes solar, wind, and geothermal projects, as well as interconnected gen-tie lines that are vital to clean energy projects proposed on non-federal land. These projects have the combined potential to add 30,960 megawatts of renewable energy to the western electric grid. The BLM is also undertaking the preliminary review of approximately 186 applications for solar and wind development, as well as 85 applications for wind and solar energy testing.

For more information on BLM’s Solar Energy Program, visit https://blmsolar.anl.gov/

For more information on the BLM’s efforts to expand renewable energy use, visit these program pages:

• BLM's National Renewable Energy Strategy
• Active Renewable Energy Projects
• List of BLM Approved Solar Wind Geothermal and Gen-tie Projects