Active Renewable Projects
Renewable Energy Development in the California Desert

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 and solar energy 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. Additional information can be found by clicking on the project name, or by viewing the public LR2000 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
MW Megawatt
NOA Notice of Availability
NOI Notice of Intent
ROD Record of Decision

UPCOMING LEASE SALES OR NOTICE OF COMPETITIVE OFFERS (as of March 24, 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
CO 4/27/2023 De Tilla Gulch SEZ (NOCO)  Solar

*Dates are subject to change. Please check the project website for updates.

PROJECTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (as of March 3, 2023)

Projects must undergo environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The below table represents 6 renewable energy projects in progress (4 solar, 2 wind, 0 geothermal, and 0 gen-tie) with the potential of up to 2,960 MW on 92,690 acres.

Other projects in various stages of preliminary review can be found by viewing the public LR2000 reports.

Solar Energy Projects

State Project Name Potential Output (MW) BLM Acres Status
AZ Jove 600 3,495 NOI Published 12/7/22
CO De Tilla Gulch TBD 1,064

DNA Completed 12/1/22 

DR Executed 12/1/22 

NV Copper Rays 700 5,127 NOI Published 11/14/22 
NV Rough Hat 400 2400 NOI Published 10/21/22

Wind Energy Projects

State Project Name Potential Output (MW) BLM Acres Status
ID Lava Ridge >1,000 10,000 - 76,000

NOI Published 8/20/21

NOA Published Draft EIS 1/20/23 

WY Two Rivers 240 4,505 Ea Released 11/9/22

Geothermal Energy Projects

State Project Name Potential Output (MW) BLM Acres Status
                  

Gen-Tie Energy Projects

State Project Name Potential Output (MW) BLM Acres Status
  None      

PROJECTS APPROVED (as of March 3, 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 34 projects (10 solar, 8 geothermal, and 17 gen-ties) on approximately 23,396 acres of BLM-managed lands. These projects expect to produce 8,160 megawatts of electricity — enough to power approximately 2,618,723 homes. (Here is an explanation of how this number was calculated.) 

Solar Energy Projects

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 09/17/21

DR Executed 09/17/21

CA Arica Solar Project 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

NM Ancient Trails 1 9

EA Released 8/8/22 

EA Completed 9/16/22 

DR Executed 9/16/22 

NV Luning II Solar 70 400

EA Released 9/23/21

EA Completed 12/17/21

DR Executed 12/17/21

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 2,711 22,131  

 

Geothermal Energy Projects

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 9/16/2022 

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 8/19/2022 

EA Completed 10/21/2022 

DR Executed 10/21/2022 

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 Geothermal 20 0 DNA Executed 1/25/22
UT Ormat Bailey Mountain Geothermal TBD 62

EA Released 2/22/22

DR Executed 4/29/22

  TOTAL 184 555  

 

Gen-Tie Energy Projects

State Project Name Potential Output (MW) BLM Acres Status
AZ HV Sunrise 150 34

EA Released 3/14/22

DR Executed 5/18/22

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

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 Excuted 6/9/22

NM Arroyo Solar 300 15

EA Completed 12/11/20

DR Executed 12/11/20

NM La Mesa 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 Valley 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

  TOTAL 5,265 710