Active Renewable Projects
Developing Clean Energy on Public Lands
The BLM continues to receive 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:
- Renewable Energy Projects Approved since 2021
- Recent and Upcoming Lease Sales or Notice of Competitive Offers
- Proposed Renewable Energy Projects In Review
- Projects In National Environmental Policy Act Review (NEPA)
- Projects In Preliminary Review
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 |
| NOCO | Notice of Competitive Offer |
| NOI | Notice of Intent |
| POD | Plan of Development |
| ROD | Record of Decision |
Renewable Energy Projects Approved (as of April 1, 2024)
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 37 projects approved by the Biden-Harris administration (8 solar, 11 geothermal, and 18 gen-ties) on approximately 9,918 acres of BLM-managed lands. These projects expect to produce up to 7,311 megawatts of electricity — enough to power up to 2,836,325 homes' electricity use for one year. (Here is an explanation of how this number was calculated.)
- Solar Projects Approved (8)
-
State Project Name Potential Output (MW) BLM Acres Status CA Arica Solar 265 1,355 EA Released 8/6/21
EA Completed 12/20/21
DR Executed 12/20/21CA Crimson Solar 350 2,600 NOI Publication 3/9/18
NOA Draft EIS 11/1/19
NOA Final EIS 2/24/21
ROD Executed 5/3/21CA Oberon Solar 500 2,700 EA Released 8/13/21
EA Completed 1/13/22
DR Executed 1/13/22CA Victory Pass Solar 200 1,310 EA Released 8/6/21
EA Completed 12/20/21
DR Executed 12/20/21NM Ancient Trails 1 9 EA Released 8/8/22
EA Completed 9/16/22
DR Executed 9/16/22NM City of Santa Fe 0.5 0.7 EA Released
EA Completed
DR Executed 7/31/23NV Luning II Solar 70 400 EA Released 9/23/21
EA Completed 12/17/21
DR Executed 12/17/21NV Townsite Solar 2 19 80 EA Released 8/3/23
EA Completed 9/26/23
DR Executed 9/26/23TOTAL 1,406 8,455 - Geothermal Projects Approved (11)
-
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 9/16/22NV Baltazor Geothermal 60 84 EA Released 12/1/20
EA Completed 5/21/21
DR Executed 5/21/21NV Crescent Valley Geothermal 48 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 11/23/21NV Gerlach Exploration 0 29 EA Released 8/19/22
EA Completed 10/21/22
DR Executed 10/21/22NV San Emidio II - North Valley Geothermal 40 130 EA Released 11/27/20
EA Completed 5/21/21
DR Executed 5/21/21NV Star Peak - Humboldt House Geothermal 20 0 DNA Executed 1/25/22 NV Weepah Hills Exploration/Resource Confirmation 0 4 EA Released 9/26/2023
EA Complete 11/21/2023
DR Executed 11/21/2023UT Cape Modern Exploration 0 172 DR Executed 2/12/23 UT Ormat Bailey Mountain Geothermal TBD 62 EA Released 2/22/22
DR Executed 4/29/22UT Rodatherm Pilot Project 2.5 10 DR Executed 9/11/23 TOTAL 234.5 741 - Gen-Tie Projects Approved (18)
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State Project Name Potential Output (MW) BLM Acres Status AZ HV Sunrise 150 34 EA Released 3/14/22
DR Executed 5/18/22CA Bellefield 1,500 4 CX Pending
DR Executed 8/10/22ID 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 7/14/21NV 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 7/14/21NV Grass Valley Solar 340 15 DNA Completed 10/20/21
DR Executed 10/20/21NV Hot Pot Solar 350 1 EA Completed 4/16/21
DR Executed 4/16/21NV Iron Point II Solar 250 4 EA Completed 4/16/21
DR Executed 4/16/21NV Tamarack Solar 60 5 DNA Complete 6/9/22
DR Executed 6/9/22NM Arroyo Solar 300 15 EA Completed 12/11/20
DR Executed 12/11/20NM La Mesa Solar Interconnect 20 14 DR Executed 12/21/22 NM San Juan Solar 600 135 EA Pending
DR Executed 1/5/22NM Sunbelt Solar 100 6 CX Pending
DR Executed 6/10/22UT Hornshadow Solar 250 13 EA Released 9/29/21
EA Completed 12/7/21
DR Executed 12/7/21UT RC Solar 80 16 DNA Released 10/26/22
DNA Completed 12/2/22
DR Executed 12/2/22UT Quicksilver Cedar 300 25 EA Released 5/28/21
EA Completed 8/16/21
DR Executed 8/16/21UT Zion Solar NextEra 80 27 DNA Completed 3/22/21
DR Executed 3/22/21WY Rock Creek 590 85 DR Executed 3/15/23 TOTAL 5,671 722.5
Recent and Upcoming Lease Sales or Notice of Competitive Offers (as of April 1, 2024)
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 recent and upcoming lease sale auctions or competitive offers.
| State | Date of Sale/Offer* | Project Name | Renewable Energy Type | Acres Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ-BLM | Lease Issued 2022 | Elisabeth Solar I | Solar | 2,254 |
| AZ-BLM | Lease issued 2022 | Heliogen SR2 | Solar | 3,347 |
| CO-BLM | Lease Issued 2023 | Pine Gate - De Tilla Gulch (SEZ) | Solar | 1,064 |
| NM-BLM | 2024 TBD | 2024 Geothermal Lease Sale | Geothermal | TBD |
| NM-BLM | TBD | Upcoming Lease Sale Afton SEZ | Solar | 29,964 |
| NV-BLM | Lease Issued 2023 | NV Energy Parcel A - Amargosa SEZ | Solar | 3,775 |
| NV-BLM | Lease Issued 2023 | NV Energy Parcel B – Amargosa SEZ | Solar | TBD |
| NV-BLM | 2024 TBD | October 8, 2024 Competitive Geothermal Lease Sale | Geothermal | 284,046 |
| UT-BLM | Lease Issued 2022 | Minersville Solar Energy Parcel A | Solar | 80 |
| UT-BLM | Lease Issued 2022 | Minersville Solar Energy Parcel B | Solar | TBD |
| UT-BLM | Lease Issued 2022 | Minersville Solar Energy Parcel C | Solar | TBD |
| UT-USFS | 2024 TBD | USFS Cove Fort Lease | Geothermal | 6,062 |
*Dates are subject to change. Please check the project website for updates.
Proposed Renewable Energy Projects In Review (as of April 1, 2024)
Projects must undergo environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The BLM currently has 66 proposed renewable energy projects, approximately 32 gigawatts, under review, including:
- 29 proposals which are in various stages of preliminary review. These projects have the potential to add an additional 13,104 MW on 492,333 acres.
- The tables below represent 37 proposed renewable energy projects (23 solar, 2 wind, 8 geothermal, and 4 gen-tie) in either preliminary or NEPA review with the potential of up to 19,426 MW on 383,833 acres.
Totals by Energy Type
| Energy Type | Number of Projects | Potential Output (MW) | BLM Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar | 23 | 16,275 | 139,903 |
| Wind | 2 | 1,600 | 241,847 |
| Geothermal | 8 | 194 | 1,829 |
| Gen-Tie | 4 | 1,357 | 254.45 |
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 20 proposed renewable energy projects (13 solar, 1 wind, 4 geothermal, and 2 gen-tie) in NEPA review with the potential of up to 13,595 MW on 182,780 acres and anticipated to receive an agency decision.
- Projects In National Environmental Policy Act Review
-
State Project Name Energy Type Potential Output (MW) BLM Acres Status AZ Elisabeth Solar I Solar 300 2,254 Public Scoping AZ Jove Solar 800 4,654 Developing DEIS AZ Pinyon Solar 300 1,730 Public Scoping AZ Ranegras Plains Solar 700 4,770 Public Scoping CA Easley Solar 650 2,745 Drafting EA CA Sapphire Gen-Tie 117 41 Public Scoping ID Lava Ridge Wind 1,000 75,760 NOA Draft EIS Published 1/18/23 NV Bonanza Solar 300 5,133 NOI Published 6/5/23 NV Copper Rays Solar 700 7,200 NOI Published 11/14/22 NV Dodge Flat II Solar 200 1,500 Public Scoping NV Dry Lake East Solar 150 2,000 Drafting EA NV Esmeralda Solar Complex (E7) Solar 6,200 62,000 Public Scoping NV Golden Currant Solar 400 4,456 NOI Published 4/25/23 NV Libra Solar 700 5,778 NOI Published 4/24/23 NV Cresent Valley Geothermal 40 60 Drafting EA NV Rough Hat Solar - Clark Solar 400 2,400 NOA Draft EIS Published 1/12/2024 NV Star Peak 2 - Utilization Geothermal 48 130 Drafting EA NV Wabuska Exploration/Resource Geothermal TBD 55 Draft EA Released 11/6/2023 NV Whirlwind Exploration/Resource Geothermal 0 29 Draft EA Released 11/22/2023 WY Rock Creek Gen-Tie 590 85 Draft EA Released 11/27/2023
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 17 proposed renewable energy projects (10 solar, 1 wind, 4 geothermal, and 2 gen-tie) which are in preliminary review and anticipated to receive an agency decision. If approved, these proposed projects would represent a combined potential of up to 5,841 MW on 201,053 acres.
In addition, the BLM is currently processing an additional 193 applications. These proposals can be found by viewing the public MLRS Reports.
- Projects in Preliminary Review
-
State Project Name Energy Type Potential Output (MW) BLM Acres Status AZ Heliogen SR2 Solar 165 3,347 Project Planning AZ Rainbow Valley Gen-Tie 300 121 Project Planning AZ Socorro Solar 350 3,032 Project Planning CA Perkins (Previously East Mesa) Solar 1,150 5,821 Project Planning CA Redonda Solar 250 3,481 Project Planning CA Vega Solar Gen-Tie 350 7 Project Planning CA Yeagar Solar 400 1,878 Project Planning NM Rincon Exploration/Resource Confirmation Geothermal TBD 1,475 Project Planning NM Shiprock Solar 360 2,000 Project Planning NV Fish Lake Utilization Geothermal 20 80 Project Planning NV Lone Mountain Utilization Geothermal 48 TBD Project Planning NV Mason Valley Solar 400 2,900 Project Planning NV Pearl Hot Springs Utilization Geothermal 48 TBD Project Planning NV Pine Nut Solar 200 1,700 Project Planning UT Minersville Solar 600 4,836 Project Planning UT Star Range Solar 600 4,288 Project Planning WY Jackalope Wind 600 166,087 Project Planning