2023 Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

The Bureau of Land Management is developing an updated plan to guide responsible solar energy development on public lands through an updated Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, which will help accelerate and continue momentum for the clean energy economy.

As part of its ongoing effort to support responsible development of renewable energy on public lands, the Bureau of Land Management is holding a series of public scoping meetings to solicit feedback on the recently announced programmatic environmental impact statement for the BLM’s utility-scale solar energy planning. The BLM is considering updates to its 2012 Western Solar Plan that included six southwestern states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah—and is seeking comment regarding expanding its solar planning to include five additional states: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

Below is information for the virtual meetings and scheduled in-person meetings.

Individuals that need special assistance, such as sign language interpretations and other reasonable accommodations, should contact the BLM at Solar@BLM.gov.

  • Virtual: January 12, 2023, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. Pre-registration is required. Click below to register for this meeting: https://argonne.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItce2prDItErl7Pg9WfX0W7I7sh7sI3Ck. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 
  • Washington, D.C.: January 13, 2023, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, at the Stewart Lee Udall Building, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, in the Yates Auditorium. Please enter at on C Street. Nearest Metro is Farragut West (orange and blue lines) and Farragut North (red line). No parking is available on-site. 
  • Sacramento, CA: January 18, 2023, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, at the Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo, 1782 Tribute Road, Sacramento, CA, 95815, in Golden State Rooms AB. Parking is complimentary for attendees. 
  • Reno, NV: January 19, 2023, 3 - 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4590 South Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502, in Room A-3 (access through north entrance parking lot). Parking is complimentary for attendees. 
  • Phoenix, AZ: January 24, 2023, 3 - 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, at the Southeast Regional Library, 775 N. Greenfield Road, Gilbert, AZ 85234, in the Shakespeare Assembly Room. Parking is complimentary for attendees. 
  • Albuquerque, NM: January 26, 2023, 3 - 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, at the Crown Plaza, 1901 University Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Parking is complimentary for attendees. 
  • Spokane, WA: January 30, 2023, 3 – 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 West Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA 99201, in Ballroom 111A. Parking is complimentary for attendees.
  • Boise, ID: January 31, 2023, 3 – 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Holiday Inn Express Boise-University Area, 475 West Park Center Blvd., Boise, ID 83706, in the Park Center Room. Parking is complimentary for attendees.
  • Cheyenne, WY: January 31, 2023, 3 – 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, at the Laramie County Community College, Center for Conferences & Institutes, 1400 East College Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82007, in the Union Pacific Centennial Room (CCI Rooms 129/130). Parking is complimentary for attendees.
  • Bend, OR: February 2, 2023, 3 – 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Bend, 300 NW Franklin Avenue, Bend, OR 97701. Parking is complimentary for attendees.
  • Billings, MT: February 2, 2023, 3 – 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, at the Billings Hotel & Convention Center, 1223 Mullowney Lane, Billings, MT 59101, in the Yellowstone Room. Parking is complimentary for attendees.
  • Salt Lake City, UT: (Note change in venue and time due to unexpected Public Library closure.) February 7, 2023, 12 – 4 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, BLM Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, in the Monument Room. Parking is available at The Gateway in the parking garages. The South Garage, accessible from 400 West and 100 South, offers convenient access to reach the BLM Utah State Office. The first hour of parking is free, is $2 for up to two hours and $2 per hour afterward up to $12 for the full day.
  • Grand Junction, CO: February 9, 2023, 3 – 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, at the Grand Junction Convention Center, 159 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501, in the Whitewater/Kannah Rooms. Parking is complimentary for attendees.
  • Virtual: February 13, 2023, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. Pre-registration is required. Click the following link to register for this meeting: https://argonne.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdOGhqTsoH695-CQKbVk2QMr_XxPikfo. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 
  • Virtual: February 14, 2023, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. Pre-registration is required. Click the following link to register for this meeting: https://argonne.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItc-GvqDMqE5f4koM2Tg5PBKHeRtu3iUI. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

The Notice of Intent to update the BLM’s 2012 solar programmatic environmental impact statement was published in the Federal Register on December 8, 2022, with interested parties invited to submit written feedback or to participate in one of the following upcoming in-person or virtual public scoping meetings.

The public comment period will remain open until March 1, 2023, which is 15 days after the last public scoping meeting. For more information on these meetings and to view the Notice of Intent, visit the BLM’s ePlanning web site at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022371/570.