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LAS VEGAS – The Bureau of Land Management Pahrump Field Office will host two virtual information forums -- December 15 and 16 -- to gather public input on the Copper Rays Solar Project proposed on approximately 5,127 acres of BLM-managed public land located in the Pahrump Valley in Nye County immediately adjacent to the county line, southeast of the Town of Pahrump and approximately 40 miles west of Las Vegas.

Copper Rays Solar, LLC has applied for a right-of-way grant to provide the necessary land and access for the construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of a proposed 700 MW solar facility including battery storage facility and interconnection to the regional transmission system on BLM-managed public land. The information forums are being held as part of solar application evaluation process and information gathered during the public input period will inform BLM’s determination on whether to continue to process or to deny the Copper Rays Solar Project right-of-way application.

The virtual public information forums are scheduled on December 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. and December 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. The forums will begin with a short presentation on the application evaluation and the Copper Rays Solar Project, will continue with a question-and-answer session and finish with a public input period.

To register for the information forums, please use the following links:

• December 15: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xabMfThuS--QU2pNKqKCog;
• December 16: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yNRxjVzcRMKoBEpIrHjgcw

If you have any questions or technical issues trying to register for the information forums, please call 864-901-3832 for assistance. More information on the virtual forums can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xekXJ.

Written public input can be submitted via email to BLM_NV_SND_EnergyProjects@blm.gov; please include “Copper Rays Solar Project” in the subject line of the email. Additionally, public input can be mailed to BLM Southern Nevada District Office, Attn: Copper Rays Solar Project, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130. Public input on the application determination will be accepted until January 7, 2022. If you have questions, please call Whitney Wirthlin at 725-249-3318.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time.  While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

The virtual public information forums will be recorded and posted at https://go.usa.gov/xekXJ.

The BLM considers right-of-way applications for utility-scale solar energy development on a case-by-case basis based on environmental considerations; coordination with appropriate federal, state and local agencies and tribes; and public outreach. To help identify resource conflicts and potential issues with new solar and wind project proposals, Southern Nevada District implemented standardization for large-scale renewable energy right-of-way application processing which prioritizes applications that have the fewest resource conflicts. Using this prioritization process, Copper Rays Solar Project was rated high priority.

“As we take the next steps in evaluating the application for the Copper Rays Solar Project, we look forward to engaging with the public and our partners in local, state, federal and tribal governments,” said Nick Pay, Pahrump Field Office Manager. “This important engagement will ensure that we can help meet the nation’s needs for renewable energy while we continue to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.”

More information about the Copper Rays Solar Project, including proposed project information and BLM’s review process, can be found https://go.usa.gov/xekXJ.

-BLM-