BLM initiates environmental analysis of the Pinyon Solar Energy Project
Public invited to participate in upcoming virtual scoping meeting
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PHOENIX — The Bureau of Land Management will begin a 30-day public scoping period to inform the environmental analysis of the proposed Pinyon Solar Project in southern Maricopa County. The project would produce up to 200 megawatts of utility-scale renewable energy from solar photovoltaic modules on 1,730 acres of public land.
The scoping period will begin on Jan. 30. The BLM will hold two scoping meetings to gather input and provide information about the proposed project. A virtual meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30 on Zoom. Interested parties can register for the online meeting. An in-person meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1 at the Maricopa Library and Cultural Center at 18160 N Maya Angelou Dr., Maricopa, AZ 85138. Other project information, including maps and information on how to submit comment are also available at the National NEPA Register.
“Public input during the scoping period will help us develop alternatives and planning criteria for the environmental assessment,” said Phoenix District Manager Leon Thomas. “Members of the public, Tribes, partners, agencies and stakeholders can all provide valuable information that will be part of our project analysis.”
The BLM will use scoping input in the development of an environmental assessment to analyze the project. The proposed solar facility would be constructed using photovoltaic solar modules combined with an integrated battery energy storage system. Associated with the project, Pinyon Solar would construct, operate, and maintain a 500-kilovolt electrical generation tie (gen-tie) line across BLM and private lands. The gen-tie line would run for about 1.9 miles from the Pinyon Solar facility to connect to the regional electrical grid at the Pinal West Substation, which is on private land in unincorporated Pinal County.
The analysis will evaluate potential impacts from the proposed project, including Tribal concerns; threatened, endangered, and sensitive species; socioeconomic effects; environmental justice; and other issues. The environmental assessment will also analyze mitigation measures to lessen environmental impacts and ensure the action alternatives would not result in unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands.
The BLM manages vast stretches of public lands that have the potential to make significant contributions to the nation’s renewable energy portfolio. To promote our clean energy goals, the BLM provides sites for environmentally sound development of renewable energy on public lands and new transmission routes to connect into the grid. These efforts to deploy renewable energy from our nation’s public lands support the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, as well as Congress’ direction in the Energy Act of 2020 to permit 25 gigawatts of solar, wind, and geothermal production on public lands no later than 2025.
For more information contact Project Manager Matthew Drahnak at mdrahnak@blm.gov or 602-919-1702.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.