Federal Lands Re-Open to Solar Industry

Recently the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it would lift a moratorium on solar energy installations on federal land. The move, which is a considerable victory for the U.S. solar industry, will open up a vast swath of usable land for solar energy: lands that dot the American landscape from coast to coast.

In a press release, Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), applauded the BLM’s decision. But, he notes, this is just a first step, the “BLM has only resolved half the problem. They have yet to approve a single solar energy project. Expediting the permit process is the next step.” According to Resch, over 20 million homes could be powered by the 130 prospective solar projects waiting approval at the agency.

Nonetheless this is a significant development in solar’s ever-accelerating story. This chapter of the story began in late May when the BLM announced the moratorium in lieu of a study of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of possible development. The halt on applications for solar projects was intended to last almost two years. The reasons for the lifting of the moratorium are unclear but the move is likely due to industry pressures and rapidly rising energy costs.

Posted on July 15th in Solar News by Dan.