Reports related to this article:
Project(s): View 11 related projects in PECWeb
Plant(s): View 5 related plants in PECWeb
Released January 18, 2022 | SUGAR LAND
en
Written by John Egan for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas) -- President Joe Biden increasingly is relying on federal agencies to achieve at least some of his decarbonization goals, given congressional opposition to his proposed massive investment in clean energy and an upcoming case at the U.S. Supreme Court that could undermine the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gases.
In recent weeks, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (Washington, D.C.), a branch of the Department of the Interior (DOI) (Washington, D.C.), has approved leases for three large solar energy projects totaling about 945 megawatts (MW) on federal land in Southern California. All three approved projects also include battery energy storage systems (BESS) totaling about 600 MW.
The BLM is considering lease applications for numerous other renewable energy projects in the West and Southwest. It has a Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan that covers 10.8 million acres of public lands spanning the desert regions of seven California counties. It also is considering lease applications for large renewable energy in Nevada, Arizona and Utah. All of these projects would go toward fulfilling the Energy Act of 2020's goal of issuing permits for up to 25,000 MW of renewable energy on federal lands and waters by 2025.
In a December 21, 2021, statement announcing the approval of two solar projects in Southern California's Riverside County, BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said renewable energy projects "on public lands create good-paying jobs and are crucial in achieving the Biden-Harris administration's goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. Investing in clean and reliable renewable energy represents the BLM's commitment for addressing climate change and supports Congress' direction in the Energy Act of 2020." For more on this law, see January 12, 2021, article - Energy Interests Get Funding For Many, But Not All, Of Their Desired Projects in Federal Omnibus Budget Bill.
The two projects greenlighted December 21 are being developed by Clearwater Energy Incorporated (San Francisco, California). They are:
"The Oberon Solar Project is another example of how our public lands are playing a key role in contributing to the nation's renewable energy portfolio. We're grateful for the collaboration between Tribal governments, local communities, state regulators, industry, and other federal agencies that is shaping responsible development on America's public lands for the benefit of current and future generations," said Stone-Manning.
In a separate but related statement from BLM on December 20, 2021, the agency said it was soliciting interest for utility-scale solar energy development on nearly 90,000 acres of public land located across Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. That solicitation is the agency's largest for solar development interest since it designated 17 solar energy zones in a comprehensive 2012 solar energy planning effort.
"Scaling-up support for responsible renewable energy production is one of the BLM's top priorities as we work across the Department of the Interior to lead the way in creating a clean energy economy in the United States," BLM Director Stone-Manning said.
To date, the BLM has allocated roughly 870,000 acres of federal public land as environmentally preferrable for solar leasing based on the areas' high potential for solar energy, suitability for utility-scale solar facilities, and limited potential for natural and cultural resource conflicts, the agency commented.
The specific areas identified in the agency's solicitation include:
Earlier, in September, it approved a solar lease in Arizona for a 260-MW solar project coupled with a 260-MW BESS. That $600 million project, the Sonoran PV Energy Center, is being developed by NextEra Energy Incorporated (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida). In a separate action in December, it auctioned acreage for three other solar projects in Arizona that could, collectively, support up to 825 MW of solar, the bureau estimated.
All of this BLM activity is separate from the actions of a different DOI agency, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which is charged with expediting the construction of up to 30,000 MW of offshore wind generation by 2030. For more on that, see March 31, 2021, article - Biden Aims to Dramatically Boost Offshore Wind Generation in the Atlantic.
In addition to a divided Congress, which has stymied and likely killed about $555 billion of climate change and clean energy projects contained in the administration's "Build Back Better" bill, the administration faces a more conservative Supreme Court which, on February 28, is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a case, West Virginia v. EPA, that challenges the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants under the Clean Air Act. In a 2007 case, Massachusetts v. EPA, the court in a 5-4 ruling confirmed that the EPA had the authority and obligation to regulate pollutants that endangered the public health. But the court today is notably more conservative than the one that handed down the 2007 decision.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn.
In recent weeks, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (Washington, D.C.), a branch of the Department of the Interior (DOI) (Washington, D.C.), has approved leases for three large solar energy projects totaling about 945 megawatts (MW) on federal land in Southern California. All three approved projects also include battery energy storage systems (BESS) totaling about 600 MW.
The BLM is considering lease applications for numerous other renewable energy projects in the West and Southwest. It has a Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan that covers 10.8 million acres of public lands spanning the desert regions of seven California counties. It also is considering lease applications for large renewable energy in Nevada, Arizona and Utah. All of these projects would go toward fulfilling the Energy Act of 2020's goal of issuing permits for up to 25,000 MW of renewable energy on federal lands and waters by 2025.
In a December 21, 2021, statement announcing the approval of two solar projects in Southern California's Riverside County, BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said renewable energy projects "on public lands create good-paying jobs and are crucial in achieving the Biden-Harris administration's goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. Investing in clean and reliable renewable energy represents the BLM's commitment for addressing climate change and supports Congress' direction in the Energy Act of 2020." For more on this law, see January 12, 2021, article - Energy Interests Get Funding For Many, But Not All, Of Their Desired Projects in Federal Omnibus Budget Bill.
The two projects greenlighted December 21 are being developed by Clearwater Energy Incorporated (San Francisco, California). They are:
- Riverside 265-MW Arica Solar Photovoltaic Facility, valued at about $245 million. The project is expected to begin construction in late-2023 and go online one year later. An attached battery energy storage project will have 50 megawatts and 200 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage capacity.
- Riverside 200-MW Victory Pass Solar PV Project, which the developer plans to kick off construction in late 2023. The plant, valued at about $145 million, is scheduled to come online in late 2024. That project also will have an attached BESS project, with designed storage capacity of 50 MW and 200 MWh.
"The Oberon Solar Project is another example of how our public lands are playing a key role in contributing to the nation's renewable energy portfolio. We're grateful for the collaboration between Tribal governments, local communities, state regulators, industry, and other federal agencies that is shaping responsible development on America's public lands for the benefit of current and future generations," said Stone-Manning.
In a separate but related statement from BLM on December 20, 2021, the agency said it was soliciting interest for utility-scale solar energy development on nearly 90,000 acres of public land located across Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. That solicitation is the agency's largest for solar development interest since it designated 17 solar energy zones in a comprehensive 2012 solar energy planning effort.
"Scaling-up support for responsible renewable energy production is one of the BLM's top priorities as we work across the Department of the Interior to lead the way in creating a clean energy economy in the United States," BLM Director Stone-Manning said.
To date, the BLM has allocated roughly 870,000 acres of federal public land as environmentally preferrable for solar leasing based on the areas' high potential for solar energy, suitability for utility-scale solar facilities, and limited potential for natural and cultural resource conflicts, the agency commented.
The specific areas identified in the agency's solicitation include:
- In Colorado: the Antonito Southeast Solar Energy Zone (9,712 acres), the DeTilla Gulch Solar Energy Zone (1,064 acres) and the Los Mogotes East Solar Energy Zone (2,650 acres)
- In Nevada: the Dry Lake Valley North Solar Energy Zone (25,069 acres), the Gold Point Solar Energy Zone (4,596 acres), and the Millers Solar Energy Zone (16,534 acres)
- In New Mexico: the Afton Solar Energy Zone (29,964 acres)
Earlier, in September, it approved a solar lease in Arizona for a 260-MW solar project coupled with a 260-MW BESS. That $600 million project, the Sonoran PV Energy Center, is being developed by NextEra Energy Incorporated (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida). In a separate action in December, it auctioned acreage for three other solar projects in Arizona that could, collectively, support up to 825 MW of solar, the bureau estimated.
All of this BLM activity is separate from the actions of a different DOI agency, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which is charged with expediting the construction of up to 30,000 MW of offshore wind generation by 2030. For more on that, see March 31, 2021, article - Biden Aims to Dramatically Boost Offshore Wind Generation in the Atlantic.
In addition to a divided Congress, which has stymied and likely killed about $555 billion of climate change and clean energy projects contained in the administration's "Build Back Better" bill, the administration faces a more conservative Supreme Court which, on February 28, is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a case, West Virginia v. EPA, that challenges the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants under the Clean Air Act. In a 2007 case, Massachusetts v. EPA, the court in a 5-4 ruling confirmed that the EPA had the authority and obligation to regulate pollutants that endangered the public health. But the court today is notably more conservative than the one that handed down the 2007 decision.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn.
