The Bureau of Land Management is considering a new strategy to streamline permitting for large-scale solar energy development in the West, including in Idaho.
The federal agency is building on a decade-old plan that focused on prime areas for solar projects in the southwest, in part to minimize environmental harm.
Now, it’s revisiting that and considering adding more land in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming where solar could be expanded. That includes about 1.5 million acres in southern Idaho.
Separately, last year, the BLM in Idaho added a step in the permitting process that renewable energy developers must complete, which it believes will minimize conflicts in siting projects.
The BLM has a goal of permitting 25 gigawatts of clean energy on public lands by 2025.
Under the agency’s preferred Western Solar Plan, it would guide development to spots close to transmission lines and away from culturally and environmentally sensitive areas. Solar proposals would still need to go through regular environmental reviews.
The BLM is hosting one more virtual public meeting on the plan on Weds., March 6, and public comments are accepted through April 18.
March 6 virtual meeting
- 11 a.m. MT
- Zoom link: https://argonne.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsf-GhqDkqEzs8egIvna6gxll8bYkwbfc#/registration
- Submit a public comment by April 18: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022371/530
Find reporter Rachel Cohen on X @racheld_cohen
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