U.S. Interior to Advance Solar Development in Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico

The Bureau of Land Management on Dec. 20 announced that it is seeking proposals for solar project development on about 90,000 acres of land located in Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. It is the agency’s biggest solicitation since it defined 17 solar energy belts in its comprehensive solar energy plan in 2012.

The regulator has shown its support for renewable power generation on a larger scale to develop a clean and sustainable energy economy in the U.S. and believes that there are a lot of opportunities for solar energy zones to expand and to meet the country’s energy needs.

The agency has designated about 870,000 acres of public lands for solar leasing based on their prospects for solar energy generation and minimal natural and societal conflicts. In 2012, the agency identified solar energy zones in its Western Solar Plan, a result of substantial stakeholder participation including conservation groups, state and local governments, Tribal Nations, and emissaries of the solar industry.

The solicitation has identified the following zones:

• Colorado – Antonito Southeast Solar Energy Zone, DeTilla Gulch Solar Energy Zone, and Los Mogotes East Solar Energy Zone
• Nevada – Dry Lake Valley North Solar Energy Zone, Gold Point Solar Energy Zone, and Millers Solar Energy Zone
• New Mexico – Afton Solar Energy Zone

All nominations for the solar energy development interest are required to be submitted in hard copy to the respective soliciting Bureau of Land Management’s office.

In the past few months the agency has created successful competitive offers. Last month, the agency awarded three solar contracts inside the Milford Flats Solar Energy Zone this past November for 4,800 acres. The agency is also on track to conclude competitive solar leasing for 8,500 acres inside the Agua Caliente, Brenda, and Gillespie Solar Energy Zones in Arizona by Dec. 2021.

Earlier on Dec. 8, the bureau auctioned solar energy development leases in energy zones in Arizona under the Biden administration’s plans to eliminate carbon emissions from the power sector by 2035 and permit 25 gigawatts of renewable energy on public lands by 2025. It is estimated that the development resulting from the leases and right-of-way could produce 825 megawatts of solar power.

Expressions of interest or nominations will be accepted until Jan. 20, 2022.