The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM), part of the Department of Interior (DOI), has approved several large-scale renewable energy projects in the US States of Nevada, Arizona and California, which will add a combined 1.7 GW of solar and 1.3 GW of battery storage capacity.
BLM has released a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the 700 MW Libra, the 400 MW Rough Hat Clark County and the 200 MW Dry Lake East solar PV projects in Nevada. The Rough Hat Clark County park will comprise 700 MW of battery energy storage, while Dry Lake East will feature a battery energy storage of 600 MW. Also in Nevada, BLM has issued a Notice of Intent for the up to 200 MW Dodge Flat II Solar project in Washoe county.
In Arizona, milestones were reached for two projects: the completion of construction of the 179 MW White Wing Ranch PV complex in Yuma County, and the start of construction at the Harquahala Valley Sunrise transmission link which will connect the 150 MW HV Sun PV park in Maricopa County. In California, a Notice to Proceed will soon be released for the 44 MW Camino solar project in Kern County.
In addition, BLM has unveiled a proposal for solar energy projects on federal lands that identifies 22 million acres (more than 89,000 km2) in 11 western states best suited for development. The announcement is part of the US Interior Department's push to site more renewable energy facilities on federal lands, a cornerstone of the current US administration’s goal to decarbonise the country’s electricity grid by 2035.
The new draft plan includes areas in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming, and is focused on lands within 16 km of existing or planned transmission lines. It also excludes 126 million acres from development due to conflicts with critical wildlife habitats, recreation, historic places and old growth forests.
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