The Biden administration has proposed opening 31 million acres of federal public lands across 11 states to solar energy development, dramatically expanding the growing industry’s footprint while streamlining permitting and regulatory requirements.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will formally publish its proposed Western Solar Plan regulatory “road map” in the Federal Register on Aug. 30. It could be enacted before year’s end.The proposed final plan is one of six the agency reviewed. Its draft was opened for public comment in January 2024. After being posted in the Federal Register, it can be implemented after a 30-day protest period and a 60-day “consistency review” by the 11 affected states’ governors’ offices.
