Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone Auction Selects Three Potential Developers
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Las Vegas –The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today sought competitive bids to develop solar energy projects on up to approximately 3,083 acres of public land in the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone (SEZ), located 15 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
Parcel Number | Size | Minimum Bid | Successful Bid | Successful Bidder |
One | 712.2 | $14,462 | $780,000 | Invenergy Solar Development, LLC |
Two | 222.8 | $4,524 | $880,000 | First Solar Development, LLC |
Three | 758.7 | $15,406 | $1,320,000 | First Solar Development, LLC |
Four | 729.0 | $14,803 | $1,460,000 | First Solar Development, LLC |
Five | 507.7 | $10,309 | $1,175,000 | NV Energy |
Six | 152.7 | $3,101 | $220,000 | NV Energy |
The process of selecting developers has several stages. Interested parties must first bid for the opportunity to apply for a Right-of-Way (ROW) to develop a solar power generating facility. Once the high bidders have been selected, they must then apply for their ROW. Successful high bidders must submit their bid and an administrative fee within 10 calendar days. They also must submit a ROW application and plan of development within 180 days of the auction. The winning bid does not automatically result in a ROW authorization. The BLM will conduct subsequent environmental analysis while processing individual ROW applications of the successful high bidders for the specific parcels.
The BLM’s auction announcement comes after a two-year planning effort between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy to pave the way for utility-scale solar energy development on the public lands. The Western Solar Plan, approved in October 2012, created 17 Solar Energy Zones with access to existing or planned transmission, incentives for development within those zones and a process for considering additional zones. The competitive bidding process is required for new solar development applications in Solar Energy Zones.
For more information about the competitive bid process, please contact: Greg Helseth, Renewable Energy Project Manager, at 702-515-5173, or ghelseth@blm.gov.
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.