Bureau of Land Management Utah issues first competitive solar leases
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CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cedar City Field Office is awarding leases to Minersville Solar Energy, LLC for three parcels encompassing more than 4,800 acres of BLM-managed public lands capable of providing clean, renewable energy in its first competitive bid solar lease sale. The company plans to build solar energy facilities on the leases in the Milford Flats South Solar Energy Zone in Beaver County, Utah, located west of Minersville. If fully developed, the solar energy facilities would generate more than 600 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 170,000 homes and hire approximately 200 construction personnel and 15 operations positions totaling more than $10 million in salaries.
“BLM Utah is committed to utilizing public lands to generate renewable energy, including wind and geothermal power, which not only provide jobs, but power our lifestyles and generate clean, reliable solar energy for our communities,” said BLM Color Country District Manager Gloria Tibbetts. “We are pleased to offer these leases to Minersville Solar Energy LLC and will continue to work closely with this partner, along with our community and Tribal governments, to ensure responsibly developed parcels maximize solar energy production, while minimizing impacts to our natural environment.”
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 the nation’s 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 not only the Administration’s priority, but 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.
In September 2021, the Notice of Competitive Offer published in the Federal Register, which began a 60-day sealed bidding period to lease the three parcels. The BLM received Minersville Solar Energy LLC’s winning bid of $164,444 during the competitive process. BLM Utah’s Cedar City Field Office received all the necessary funds for the three A, B and C parcels.
Parcel maps and additional information on the leases can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xugpq. For additional questions, please contact Mackenzie Johnston at mjohnston@blm.gov, or by phone at 435-865-3000.
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.