Active Renewable Projects
Developing Clean Energy on Public Lands
The BLM has received over 100 proposals for utility-scale wind, solar, geothermal, and gen-tie line projects on public land. These projects are in various stages of review or implementation.
Applications for wind energy, and solar energy, and gen-tie projects may be processed and authorized as rights-of-way under Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and Title 43, Part 2800, of the Code of Federal Regulations. Wind and solar projects are authorized under right-of-way leases within designated leasing areas and are authorized under right-of-way grants in areas outside of designated leasing areas. Geothermal energy projects are processed under the Geothermal Steam Act, as amended, and Title 43, Part 3200, CFR, and are authorized under leases and permits.
The tables below provide a current list of active renewable energy projects as follows:
- Upcoming Lease Sales or Notice of Competitive Offers
- Proposed Renewable Energy Projects In Review
- Renewable Energy Projects Approved
Additional information can be found by clicking on the project name, or by viewing the public MLRS Reports.
List of Acronyms Used on This Page
| BLM | Bureau of Land Management |
| CFR | Code of Federal Regulations |
| DNA | Determination of NEPA Adequacy |
| DR | Decision Record |
| EA | Environmental Assessment |
| EIS | Environmental Impact Statement |
| Gen-Tie | Generation Interconnect |
| MW | Megawatt |
| NOA | Notice of Availability |
| NOI | Notice of Intent |
| ROD | Record of Decision |
Upcoming Lease Sales or Notice of Competitive Offers (as of Oct. 26, 2023)
The BLM offers lands for renewable energy development through competitive lease sales for geothermal or notice of competitive offers for solar. Leases not awarded through one of these methods may become available noncompetitively. This table represents upcoming lease sale auctions or competitive offers.
| State | Date of Sale/Offer* | Project Name | Renewable Energy Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| NV-BLM | 11/14/23 | Upcoming Lease Sale | Geothermal |
| NV-USFS | 2024 TBD | Upcoming Lease Sale | Geothermal |
*Dates are subject to change. Please check the project website for updates.
Proposed Renewable Energy Projects In Review (as of Oct. 26, 2023)
Projects must undergo environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The tables below represent 36 proposed renewable energy projects (26 solar, 3 wind, 4 geothermal, and 3 gen-tie) in either preliminary or NEPA review with the potential of up to 21,728 MW on 475,261 acres and anticipated to receive an agency decision to be approved or denied by 2025.
Totals by Energy Type
| Energy Type | Number of Projects | Potential Output (MW) | BLM Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar | 26 | 18673 | 154,570 |
| Wind | 3 | 2,200 | 292,564 |
| Geothermal | 4 | 88 | 1,720 |
| Gen-Tie | 3 | 767 | 169 |
Projects In Preliminary Review
Before entering formal environmental review under NEPA, proposals for renewable energy projects undergo agency preliminary review. This includes but is not limited to adjudication for completeness and conformance with regulatory requirements, processing prioritization, and development of a cost recovery agreement with applicants.
The following table represents 24 proposed renewable energy projects (18 solar, 2 wind, 1 geothermal, and 3 gen-tie) which are in preliminary review and anticipated to receive an agency decision to be approved or denied by mid-2025. If approved, these proposed projects would represent a combined potential of up to 16,140 MW on 363,394 acres.
The BLM also has received numerous additional proposals which are in various stages of preliminary review and not anticipated to complete the review process until after 2025. These proposals can be found by viewing the public MLRS Reports.
| State | Project Name | Energy Type | Potential Output (MW) | BLM Acres | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ | Elisabeth Solar I - 300 MW | Solar | 300 | 2,254 | Project Planning |
| AZ | Heliogen SR2 -165 NM | Solar | 165 | 3,347 | Project Planning |
| AZ | Pinyon | Solar | 200 | 1,730 | Project Planning |
| AZ | Rainbow Valley | Gen-Tie | 300 | 121 | Project Planning |
| AZ | Ranegras Plains | Solar | 700 | 4,770 | Project Planning |
| AZ | Socorro | Solar | 350 | 3,032 | Project Planning |
| CA | East Mesa | Solar | 650 | 5,821 | Project Planning |
| CA | Easley | Solar | 650 | 2,745 | Project Planning |
| CA | Lycan | Solar | 250 | 6,700 | Project Planning |
| CA | Redonda | Solar | 250 | 3,481 | Project Planning |
| CA | Sapphire | Gen-Tie | 117 | 41 | Project Planning |
| CA | Vega Solar | Gen-Tie | 350 | 7 | Peoject Planning |
| CA | Yeagar | Solar | 400 | 1,878 | Project Planning |
| NM | Afton SEZ Lease Sale | Solar | 2,663 | 29,964 | Project Planning |
| NM | Shiprock | Solar | 360 | 2,000 | Project Planning |
| NV | Dodge Flat II | Solar | 200 | 1,500 | Project Planning |
| NV | Esmeralda Complex (E7) | Solar | 5,350 | 62,000 | Project Planning |
| NV | Mason Valley | Solar | 400 | 2,900 | Project Planning |
| NV | Ormat Rincon Exploration | Geothermal | TBD | 1,475 | Project Planning |
| NV | Pine Nut | Solar | 200 | 1,700 | Project Planning |
| NV | Stagecoach | Wind | 600 | 50,717 | Project Planning |
| UT | Minersville - 600 MW | Solar | 600 | 4,836 | Project Planning |
| UT | Star Range | Solar | 600 | 4,288 | Project Planning |
| WY | Jackalope | Wind | 600 | 166,087 | Project Planning |
Projects In National Environmental Policy Act Review
Once the BLM completes preliminary review activities, projects may continue to the NEPA review process. The following table represents 12 proposed renewable energy projects (8 solar, 3 geothermal, and 1 wind) in NEPA review with the potential of up to 5,588 MW on 111,867 acres and anticipated to receive an agency decision to be approved or denied by 2025.
| State | Project Name | Energy Type | Potential Output (MW) | BLM Acres | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ | Jove | Solar | 800 | 4,654 | NOI Published 12/7/22 |
| AZ | Vulcan | Solar | 1,050 | 7,374 | NOI Published 6/30/23 |
| ID | Lava Ridge | Wind | 1,000 | 75,760 | NOA Published Draft EIS 1/20/23 |
| NV | Copper Rays | Solar | 700 | 5,127 | NOI Published 11/14/22 |
| NV | Bonanza | Solar | 300 | 5,133 | NOI Published 6/30/23 |
| NV | Dry Lake East | Solar | 150 | 2,000 | Draft EA Released 8/25/23 |
| NV | Golden Currant | Solar | 400 | 4,456 | NOI Published 4/25/23 |
| NV | Libra | Solar | 700 | 5,778 | NOI Published 4/24/23 |
| NV | Ormat Cresent Valley | Geothermal | 40 | 60 | Drafting EA |
| NV | Rough Hat - Clark | Solar | 400 | 2,400 | NOI Published 10/21/22 |
| NV | Star Peak 2 - Humboldt House | Geothermal | 48 | 130 | Drafting EA |
| NV | Wabuska | Geothermal | TBD | 55 | Drafting EA |
Renewable Energy Projects Approved (as of Oct. 26, 2023)
As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2035 and meet the Energy Act of 2020 goal of permitting 25 gigawatts of renewable energy on public lands by 2025, the BLM has approved the following renewable energy projects with a Record of Decision or Decision Record.
These tables represent 46 projects (16 solar, 10 geothermal, and 20 gen-ties) on approximately 35,058 acres of BLM-managed lands. These projects expect to produce up to 11,236 megawatts of electricity — enough for approximately 3,538,745 homes' electricity use. (Here is an explanation of how this number was calculated.)
Solar Projects Approved (16)
| State | Project Name | Potential Output (MW) | BLM Acres | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ | Elisabeth Solar I | 300 | 2,254 | DNA Completed 9/24/21 DR Executed 9/24/21 Leases Executed 9/16/22 |
| AZ | Heliogen SR2 | 165 | 3,347 | DNA Completed 9/24/21 DR Executed 9/24/21 Leases Executed 4/28/22 |
| AZ | Sonoran Solar | 260 | 3,320 | EA Released 8/14/21 EA Completed 9/17/21 DR Executed 9/17/21 |
| CA | Arica Solar | 265 | 1,355 | EA Released 8/6/21 EA Completed 12/20/21 DR Executed 12/20/21 |
| CA | Crimson Solar | 350 | 2,600 | NOI Publication 3/9/18 NOA Draft EIS 11/1/19 NOA Final EIS 2/24/21 ROD Executed 5/3/21 |
| CA | Oberon Solar | 500 | 2,700 | EA Released 8/13/21 EA Completed 1/13/22 DR Executed 1/13/22 |
| CA | Victory Pass Solar | 200 | 1,310 | EA Released 8/6/21 EA Completed 12/20/21 DR Executed 12/20/21 |
| CO | Pine Gate - De Tilla Gulch (SEZ) | 213 | 1,064 | DNA Completed 12/1/22 DR Executed 12/1/22 Lease Issued 6/30/23 |
| NM | Ancient Trails | 1 | 9 | EA Released 8/8/22 EA Completed 9/16/22 DR Executed 9/16/22 |
| NM | City of Santa Fe | 0.5 | 0.7 | EA Released EA Completed DR Executed 7/31/23 |
| NV | Luning II Solar | 70 | 400 | EA Released 9/23/21 EA Completed 12/17/21 DR Executed 12/17/21 |
| NV | NV Energy Parcel A - Armagosa SEZ | 650 | 3,775 | Lease Issued 9/13/23 |
| NV | NV Energy Parcel B - Armagosa SEZ | 550 | 3,451 | Lease Issued 9/13/23 |
| NV | Townsite Solar 2 | 19 | 80 | EA Released 8/3/23 EA Completed 9/26/23 DR Executed 9/26/23 |
| NV | Yellow Pine Solar | 500 | 3,000 | ROW Authorized 1/15/21 |
| UT | Minersville Solar | 600 | 4,836 | EA Released 4/20/18 EA Completed 7/23/18 DR Executed 7/23/18 Leases Issued 3/11/22 |
| TOTAL | 4,644 | 33,502 |
Geothermal Projects Approved (10)
| State | Project Name | Potential Output (MW) | BLM Acres | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | Ormesa 1 | 4 | 15 | DNA Released 6/10/22 DNA Completed 9/16/22 DR Executed 9/16/22 |
| NV | Baltazor Geothermal | 60 | 84 | EA Released 12/1/20 EA Completed 5/21/21 DR Executed 5/21/21 |
| NV | Crescent Valley Geothermal | TBD | 29 | DR Executed 3/30/22 |
| NV | Dixie Meadows Geothermal | 60 | 206 | EA Released 7/18/16 EA Released 1/21/21 EA Completed 11/23/21 DR Executed 11/23/21 |
| NV | Gerlach Exploration | 0 | 29 | EA Released 8/19/22 EA Completed 10/21/22 DR Executed 10/21/22 |
| NV | San Emidio II - North Valley Geothermal | 40 | 130 | EA Released 11/27/20 EA Completed 5/21/21 DR Executed 5/21/21 |
| NV | Star Peak - Humboldt House Geothermal | 20 | 0 | DNA Executed 1/25/22 |
| UT | Cape Modern Exploration | 0 | 172 | DR Executed 2/12/23 |
| UT | Ormat Bailey Mountain Geothermal | TBD | 62 | EA Released 2/22/22 DR Executed 4/29/22 |
| UT | Rodatherm Pilot Project | 2.5 | 10 | DR Executed 9/11/23 |
| TOTAL | 187 | 737 |
Gen-Tie Projects Approved (20)
| State | Project Name | Potential Output (MW) | BLM Acres | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ | HV Sunrise | 150 | 34 | EA Released 3/14/22 DR Executed 5/18/22 |
| AZ | Proving Ground (formerly Viktoria Solar) | 250 | 18 | DR Executed 1/23/23 |
| CA | Bellefield | 1,500 | 4 | CX Pending DR Executed 8/10/22 |
| CA | Blythe Mesa | 485 | 78 | DNA Completed 1/27/22 DR Executed 1/27/22 |
| ID | Moon Crater | 301 | 5.5 | DR Executed 6/13/23 |
| NV | Big Horn Solar I | 300 | 162 | NOI Publication 5/8/20 NOA Draft EIS 3/12/21 NOA Final EIS 6/3/21 ROD Executed 7/14/21 |
| NV | Big Horn Solar II | 100 | 156 | NOI Publication 5/8/20 NOA Draft EIS 3/12/21 NOA Final EIS 6/3/21 ROD Executed 7/14/21 |
| NV | Grass Valley Solar | 340 | 15 | DNA Completed 10/20/21 DR Executed 10/20/21 |
| NV | Hot Pot Solar | 350 | 1 | EA Completed 4/16/21 DR Executed 4/16/21 |
| NV | Iron Point II Solar | 250 | 4 | EA Completed 4/16/21 DR Executed 4/16/21 |
| NV | Tamarack Solar | 60 | 5 | DNA Complete 6/9/22 DR Executed 6/9/22 |
| NM | Arroyo Solar | 300 | 15 | EA Completed 12/11/20 DR Executed 12/11/20 |
| NM | La Mesa Solar Interconnect | 20 | 14 | DR Executed 12/21/22 |
| NM | San Juan Solar | 600 | 135 | EA Pending DR Executed 1/5/22 |
| NM | Sunbelt Solar | 100 | 6 | CX Pending DR Executed 6/10/22 |
| UT | Hornshadow Solar | 250 | 13 | EA Released 9/29/21 EA Completed 12/7/21 DR Executed 12/7/21 |
| UT | RC Solar | 80 | 16 | DNA Released 10/26/22 DNA Completed 12/2/22 DR Executed 12/2/22 |
| UT | Quicksilver Cedar | 300 | 25 | EA Released 5/28/21 EA Completed 8/16/21 DR Executed 8/16/21 |
| UT | Zion Solar NextEra | 80 | 27 | DNA Completed 3/22/21 DR Executed 3/22/21 |
| WY | Rock Creek | 590 | 85 | DR Executed 3/15/23 |
| TOTAL | 6,406 | 819 |