California is at the forefront of the country's hopes for renewable energy.  The state's wind, solar, geothermal and biomass resources, many on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), hold tremendous promise for a secure and reliable energy future.

"More energy will be needed to drive [California's] economic engines...public lands will continue to play a critical role."

More energy will be needed to drive the economic engines of the eighth-largest economy in the world.  The public lands administered by the BLM will continue to play a critical role.

California's energy is generated from a variety of sources.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, natural gas is the largest source (47%), followed by nuclear (16%), coal (15%, mostly from out of state generation), renewable (13% including geothermal, biomass, small hydro, wind and solar), and hydroelectric (about 9%).  Federal and state agencies are working together to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the state's energy mix.

Both President Barack Obama and Governor Jerry Brown have set high targets for renewable production.  The President calls for doubling renewable energy production in three years.  The Governor has signed a bill setting a 33% target for California's utilities to generate electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed an order in March 2009 making renewable energy production a top priority for the Department and the BLM.  He also signed an order in November 2009 establishing the Renewable Energy Action Team, or REAT, comprised of BLM, California Department of Fish and Game, the California Energy Commission, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Together, the agencies are developing a Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan for California, called the DRECP.  A Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental analysis was published on August 5, 2011. 

The BLM is also undertaking a planning effort in the West Chocolate Mountains Renewable Energy Evaluation Area.  Over 59,000 acres, including nearly 18,000 acres of BLM land, are being analyzed for solar, wind, and geothermal energy potential.

Renewable Energy Summary (as of December 2011)
			Wind			Solar
Area			Applications  for Testing	Authorizations for Testing*	Applications for Development**	Applications for Development					Authorizations for Development
Statewide Acres			33 379,422	55 445,186	13 67,040	19 134,415					7  27,976
Desert Acres			29  297,615	42 322,471	11 47,751	18 132,906					7  27,976
Central CA Acres			1 1,444	3  16,205	1 7,882	1 1,509					0
Northern CA Acres			3 80,363	10 106,510	1 11,407	0					0

* Authorized testing acreages exclude projects submitted for development.

** BLM currently has authorized more than 3,000 wind turbines on public lands, but they are not included in this table.

Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) and 
Renewable Energy Action Team (REAT) Documents and Announcements

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• Secretary Salazar, Governor Brown Expand Partnership to Expedite Renewable Energy Projects in California, January 1, 2012

• REAT 2011 Renewable Energy Project Permitting Milestones
  Milestones established by the REAT for renewable energy project applications to meet Recovery Act funding deadlines (February 2011)

• Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan 

• News Release:  Innovative Federal and State Agreement will aid Proposed Renewable Energy Projects in Southern California, May 19, 2010
  Joint news release by Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, California Department of Fish and Game, and the California Energy Commission 
  • Renewable Energy Action Team (REAT) Memorandum of Agreement, April 2, 2010
    Signed by Jim Abbott, BLM
  • Frequently Asked Questions, May 29, 2010
• Memorandum of Understanding between the State of California and the Department of the Interior on Renewable Energy, October 12, 2009
  Signed by DOI Secretary Ken Salazar and Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger 

• California Renewable Energy Action Team Memorandum of Understanding - November 2008
  MOU between the California Department of Fish and Game, The California Energy Commission, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and wildlife Service regarding the establishment of the California Renewable Energy Action Team (pdf) 

• Governor Schwarzenegger Advances State’s Renewable Energy Development
  Signs Executive Order to raise California's renewable energy goals to 33 percent by 2020; clears red tape for renewable projects. 

• Milestones to Permit California Renewable Portfolio Standard Energy Projects by December 2010 
  Produced by the Renewable Energy Action Team, these milestones apply to the most common RPS renewable energy project permitting scenarios for REAT Agencies. 

• Best Management Practices & Guidance Manual: Desert Renewable Energy Projects
  This manual provides guidance for preparing applications for renewable energy projects and best management practices for renewable energy facilities located in the California desert region.

Renewable Energy Priority Projects

Just for Fun - Get Energized!

Get Energized is an interactive program on energy education.  For use by teachers and students, this program includes a printable educator's guide. 

A Teacher's Guide to ENERGY on Public Lands

Learn about energy resources on public lands, both renewable and non-renewable.