With an average of 325 sunny days each year, wide open spaces, and an increasing need to locate and take advantage of "green" energy opportunities, the Arizona desert is prime territory for renewable energy in the form of natural sunlight.  The use of solar energy can be found today all over Arizona on private land. Small commercial facilities such as the photovoltaic array currently situated in Springerville, and self supporting structures such as streetlights and weather stations are everywhere, even in the smallest of communities. This renewable energy is powering homes and businesses today, with large scale projects on the horizon proposed to be developed in the coming months and years. Armed with an abundance of sunlight, Arizona is the land of sunshine and opportunity.

 In 2008, BLM Arizona experienced a “gold rush” of right-of-way applications for solar facilities across the state. Solar development companies or “prospectors” are looking to the 12.2 million acres of public land currently administered by the BLM in Arizona as potential areas for solar infrastructure. Interest in using public lands for solar development has carried over to 2009. Further information on the applicants, proposed locations, and proposed technology of the pending applications is available in the two links below which is updated bi-weekly.