U.S. Interior Department Approves 1,000 Megawatts of Solar Projects in California

The U.S. Interior Department on Dec.21 announced it has approved two solar projects, with a third one nearing completion on public lands in Riverside County, California. The three projects are projected to generate 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy and are the first to be approved under the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) in the desert regions of seven California counties.

The Bureau of Land Management approved the Arica and Victory pass solar projects that will generate a total of up to 465 megawatts of electricity, with up to 400 megawatts of battery storage.  Meanwhile, the Oberon solar project is close to being approved. This project is a 500 megawatt photovoltaic solar project on 2,700 acres of public lands that would provide electricity to 142,000 homes.

California enacted Senate Bill 100 in 2018, which requires eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources to supply 100 percent of retail electricity sales by 2045. The federal approval of three solar projects is compatible with the state’s goal. California is one of 19 states that have aggressive 100 percent clean energy goals, 18 of which stem from state law. Currently, Californian regulated utilities are on track to reach the state’s renewable portfolio standard of procuring 60 percent of retail sales from renewables by 2030.

The DRECP has two overarching goals; firstly, the plan identifies specific development focus areas with high quality renewable energy potential and access to transmission in areas where environmental impacts can be managed and mitigated. Secondly, the plan provides for the long term conservation and management of covered species and preserves the natural resources, recreational areas, and scenic values.

The DRECP is consistent with President Biden’s goal of committing the federal government to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and provide the country with clean, affordable, and reliable energy. U.S. lawmakers are accentuating the importance of renewable energy projects via policies they are approving in Congress.