Star Range Solar Project advances to environmental review process
BLM Utah approves variance to enable new renewable energy development on public land
Organization
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
CEDAR CITY, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management has begun processing the right-of-way application for the Star Range Solar Project submitted by 174 Power Global, owned by Hanwha Energy Corporation. The project is planned to span about 4,288 acres in Beaver County, Utah, and could generate an estimated 600 megawatts of electricity, enough to power over 180,000 homes.
“Completing this step allows us to move forward in the National Environmental Policy Act,” said BLM Utah State Director Greg Sheehan. “Now we can complete a thorough analysis of the impacts and benefits this proposed project would create. If approved after the appropriate environmental review, the solar energy project would provide significant clean energy benefits in the local community.”
The project proposal falls within a variance area identified by the 2012 Western Solar Plan Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. The variance process requires BLM and applicants to evaluate potential impacts to sensitive resources in the area and discuss issues like site locations, environmental effects and other concerns with appropriate agencies, Tribes and the public. The variance process verified that the project would be in an area appropriate for solar energy development.
The completion of the variance process does not approve the project but allows the continued processing of the application and initiation of the National Environmental Policy Act process. The NEPA process will include public scoping and the preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement where BLM will again request public input. The NEPA analysis will provide the basis for any future decisions regarding the project.
For more information on the solar variance process, visit BLM Utah's associated policy online.
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 development of these energy sources, BLM provides sites for environmentally sound development of renewable energy on public lands. The efficient deployment of renewable energy from our nation’s public lands is crucial in achieving 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.
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.