Clean energy, Healthy habitat

Authorizing renewable energy development is a priority for the Department of the Interior, and recently announced rules on permitting solar and wind energy along with the ongoing environmental analysis of utility-scale solar development establish the BLM's role in building a clean energy economy. 

Some of the nearly 67 million acres of sagebrush habitat on BLM-managed lands may also hold potential for renewable energy generation or as locations for transmission lines that connect power projects to the grid, sometimes called gen-tie lines. Responsible development means that the BLM is also analyzing the effects of renewable energy and transmission projects on public lands that greater sage-grouse need for their survival. 

The draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on proposed updates to the 2015 plans for managing sage-grouse habitat looks at how we can sustain these multiple uses of public lands now and in the future. 
 

Wind and Solar 

The draft EIS proposes a range of alternatives for addressing the impacts of wind and solar energy development. Alternative 1 would retain the plans adopted in 2015; Alternative 2 would opt for management under updates made in 2019. 

• Alternative 3 would close all designated Priority habitat areas to wind and solar projects.
   
• Under Alternative 4 wind and solar projects would be excluded from Priority habitat areas and avoided in General habitat areas.
   
• Wind and solar development would avoid Priority habitat under Alternatives 5 and 6. In General habitat developers would have to minimize and compensate for effects where it's not possible to avoid development in Priority habitat. 

Transmission

• New transmission lines would be excluded from Priority habitat areas under Alternative 3.
   
• Alternative 4 would allow transmission lines in General habitat areas, except in breeding and nesting habitat or within a half-mile of Priority habitat.
   
• Transmission lines would avoid Priority habitat under Alternatives 5 and 6, while General habitat would be open to projects that minimize or compensate for effects to habitat where it's not possible to avoid development in Priority habitat. 
   

GET INVOLVED |  Review and comment on the draft environmental analysis of proposed options for protecting the greater sage-grouse's habitat on BLM-managed public lands while providing for people's present and future needs. The public comment period is open through June 13, 2024.