Renewable Energy Development in the California Desert

Active Solar and Wind Projects

 

The BLM continually receives proposals for utility-scale wind, solar, and gen-tie line projects on public land, which are in various stages of review or implementation.

Applications for wind energy, and solar energy, and gen-tie projects may be processed and authorized as rights-of-way under Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and Title 43, Part 2800, of the Code of Federal Regulations. Wind and solar projects are authorized under right-of-way leases within designated leasing areas and are authorized under right-of-way grants in areas outside of designated leasing areas. 

 

The tables below provide a current list of active renewable energy projects as follows:

 

Additional information can be found by clicking on the project name, or by viewing the public MLRS Reports.

List of Acronyms Used on This Page

BLMBureau of Land Management
CFRCode of Federal Regulations
DNADetermination of NEPA Adequacy
DRDecision Record
EAEnvironmental Assessment
EISEnvironmental Impact Statement
Gen-TieGeneration Interconnect
MWMegawatt
NOANotice of Availability
NOCONotice of Competitive Offer
NOINotice of Intent
PODPlan of Development
RODRecord of Decision
SEZSolar Energy Zone
USFSUnited States Forest Service

Renewable Energy Projects Approved (as of December 2024)

These tables represent recently approved projects on BLM-managed lands. 

Solar Projects Approved (13)
StateProject NamePotential Output (MW)BLM AcresStatus
AZJove Solar2653,495ROD Executed 1/6/25
CAArica Solar2651,355EA Released 8/6/21
EA Completed 12/20/21
DR Executed 12/20/21
CACrimson Solar3502,600NOI Publication 3/9/18
NOA Draft EIS 11/1/19
NOA Final EIS 2/24/21
ROD Executed 5/3/21
CAEasley Solar3902,745DR Executed 12/6/24
CAOberon Solar5002,700EA Released 8/13/21
EA Completed 1/13/22
DR Executed 1/13/22
CAVictory Pass Solar2001,310EA Released 8/6/21
EA Completed 12/20/21
DR Executed 12/20/21
NMAncient Trails19EA Released 8/8/22
EA Completed 9/16/22
DR Executed 9/16/22
NMCity of Santa Fe0.50.7EA Completed 7/31/23
DR Executed 7/31/23
NV
 

Dry Lake East

1502,000EA Released 1/19/24
EA Completed 4/19/24
DR Executed 4/19/24
NVLibra Solar7005,141NOI Publication 4/24/23
NOA Draft EIS 1/19/24
NOA Final EIS 7/26/24
ROD Executed 9/16/24
NVLuning II Solar70400EA Released 9/23/21
EA Completed 12/17/21
DR Executed 12/17/21
NVRough Hat Solar-Clark4002,469NOA Draft EIS Published 1/12/24
NOA Final EIS Published 11/1/24
DR Executed 1/16/25
NVTownsite Solar 21980EA Released 8/3/23
EA Completed 9/26/23
DR Executed 9/26/23
 Total3,645.524,305 
Wind Energy Projects Approved (2)
StateProject NamePotential Output (MW)BLM AcresStatus
IDLava Ridge1,00038,535DR Executed 12/5/24
WYTwo Rivers Wind2804,507DR Executed 12/18/24
 Total1,28043,042 
Gen-Tie Projects Approved (19)
StateProject NamePotential Output (MW)BLM AcresStatus
AZHV Sunrise15034EA Released 3/14/22
DR Executed 5/18/22
CABellefield1,5004CX Pending
DR Executed 8/10/22
IDMoon Crater3015.5DR Executed 6/13/23
NVBig Horn Solar I300162NOI Publication 5/8/20
NOA Draft EIS 3/12/21
NOA Final EIS 6/3/21
ROD Executed 7/14/21
NVBig Horn Solar II100156NOI Publication 5/8/20
NOA Draft EIS 3/12/21
NOA Final EIS 6/3/21
ROD Executed 7/14/21
NVGrass Valley Solar34015DNA Completed 10/20/21
DR Executed 10/20/21
NVHot Pot Solar3501EA Completed 4/16/21
DR Executed 4/16/21
NVIron Point II Solar2504EA Completed 4/16/21
DR Executed 4/16/21
NVTamarack Solar605DNA Complete 6/9/22
DR Executed 6/9/22
NMArroyo Solar30015EA Completed 12/11/20
DR Executed 12/11/20
NMLa Mesa Solar Interconnect2014DR Executed 12/21/22
NMSan Juan Solar600135EA Pending
DR Executed 1/5/22
NMSunbelt Solar1006CX Pending
DR Executed 6/10/22
UTHornshadow Solar25013EA Released 9/29/21
EA Completed 12/7/21
DR Executed 12/7/21
UTRC Solar8016DNA Released 10/26/22
DNA Completed 12/2/22
DR Executed 12/2/22
UTQuicksilver Cedar30025EA Released 5/28/21
EA Completed 8/16/21
DR Executed 8/16/21
UTZion Solar NextEra8027DNA Completed 3/22/21
DR Executed 3/22/21
WYRock Creek59085DR Executed 3/15/23
WYUinta Wind Gen-Tie and Road056DR Executed 1/13/25
 TOTAL5,671778.5 

 

Recent and Upcoming Lease Sales or Notice of Competitive Offers (as of January 17, 2025)

The BLM offers lands for solar development through notice of competitive offers. Leases not awarded may become available noncompetitively. This table represents recent and upcoming competitive offers.

StateDate of Sale/Offer*Project NameRenewable Energy TypeAcres Offered 
AZ-BLMLease Issued 2022Elisabeth Solar ISolar1,411
AZ-BLMLease Issued 2022Heliogen SR2Solar3,347
CO-BLMLease Issued 2023Pine Gate - De Tilla Gulch (SEZ)Solar1,064
NV-BLMLease Issued 2023NV Energy Parcel A - Amargosa SEZSolar3,775
NV-BLMLease Issued 2023NV Energy Parcel B – Amargosa SEZSolarTBD
UT-BLMLease Issued 2022Minersville Solar Energy Parcel ASolar 310
UT-BLMLease Issued 2022Minersville Solar Energy Parcel BSolar2,708
UT-BLMLease Issued 2022Minersville Solar Energy Parcel CSolar1,818

*Dates are subject to change. Please check the project website for updates.


Proposed Renewable Energy Projects In Review (as of January 17, 2025)

Projects must undergo environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

Totals by Energy Type

Energy TypeNumber of ProjectsPotential Output (MW)BLM Acres
Solar3520,827181,628
Wind32,821341,976
Gen-Tie101,787278.5
Total4825,435523,882.5

 

Projects In National Environmental Policy Act Review

Once the BLM completes preliminary review activities, projects may continue to the NEPA review process. The following table represents proposed energy projects in NEPA review and anticipated to receive an agency decision.

Projects In National Environmental Policy Act Review
StateProject NameEnergy TypePotential Output (MW)BLM AcresStatus
AZElisabeth Solar ISolar270300Draft EA Released 7/25/24
AZRanegras PlainsSolar7004,763NOI Published 11/09/23
CAEasleySolar3902,745Final EA Released 8/21/24 
NVBonanza Solar300131NOI Published 6/5/23   
NOA Draft EIS Published 9/6/24 
NVCopper RaysSolar7004,414NOI Published 11/14/22
NOA Draft EIS Published 9/20/24
NVDodge Flat IISolar 2001,500NOI Published 1/19/24
Public Scoping 10/4/24
NVEsmeralda Solar Complex (E7)Solar6,20062,000NOI Published 11/13/23 
NOA Draft EIS Published 7/26/24
NVPurple Sage (FKA Golden Currant)Solar4004,456NOI Published 4/25/23
NOA Draft EIS Published 11/15/24 
WYLucky StarGen-Tie00Drafting EA

 

Projects In Preliminary Review

Before entering formal environmental review under NEPA, proposals for energy projects undergo agency preliminary review. This includes but is not limited to adjudication for completeness and conformance with regulatory requirements, processing prioritization, and development of a cost recovery agreement with applicants.

Proposals for additional applications the BLM is currently processing can be found by viewing the public MLRS Reports.

Projects in Preliminary Review
StateProject NameEnergy TypePotential Output (MW)BLM AcresStatus
AZCaballero SolarSolar2001,278Project Planning
AZCalypte SolarSolar6856,340Variance Process
AZEagle Eye SolarSolar4004,830Project Planning
AZHeliogen SR2Solar1653,347POD Review
AZLeo SolarSolar4505,565Project Planning
AZMariposa SolarSolar4102,350POD Review
AZPinyon Solar Solar3001,7,30Project Planning 
AZRainbow ValleyGen-Tie300121Project Planning
AZSocorro SolarSolar3503,032Project Planning
AZSouthwest Crossroads SolarSolar2502,298Variance Concurrence
AZYellow CupsSolar5005,173Variance Process
CALycan SolarSolar6005,590Project Planning
CAPerkins (Previously East Mesa)Solar1,1505,821Project Planning
CARedondaSolar2503,481Project Planning
CASoda Mountain SolarSolar3581,767Project Planning
CASunbaked SolarSolar4002,882Project Planning
CAVega 2-3-5 SolarGen-Tie3507Project Planning
CAVerano SolarSolar1,2008,915Project Planning
CAYeagar SolarSolar4001,878Project Planning
IDBennett SolarSolar4804,076Project Planning
IDSalmon Falls WindWind90090,000Project Planning
NMAncient Trails Solar ProjectSolar18.93Project Planning
NMBlack Mountain Gen-TieGen-Tie10015Project Planning
NMCowboy SolarSolar2002,600POD Review
NMShiprock SolarSolar3602,000Project Planning
NVEsmeralda NorthSolar1,0007,402Variance Process
NVMason ValleySolar4002,900Project Planning
NVMosey SolarSolar5005,281Project Planning
NVPantheon SolarSolar4002,682Variance Process
NVRooster's Comb SolarSolar4002,565Project Planning
NVSamantha SolarSolar6002,891Variance Process
ORExpeditionSolar7000Project Planning
UTMinersvilleSolar6004,836Project Planning
UTNeptune SolarSolar1991,680Project Planning 
UTQuicksilver Solar Gen-TieGen-Tie30036.4Project Planning 
UTRC Solar Gen-TieGen-Tie8015.8Project Planning 
UTStar RangeSolar6004,288Project Planning
UTZion Solar - Three Peaks Gen-TieGen-Tie8027.3Project Planning
WYJackalopeWind600100Application / Initial POD Review
WYMaestroWind1,32185,876Project Planning