– Final rules published by BLM will reduce rents and fees for renewable energy projects through 2035
– Lease terms for renewable projects will be extended to 50 years
– Competitive leasing requirements will be removed in priority development areas, making it easier to develop energy storage projects on public lands
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released final rules for leasing and rental rates for renewable energy projects on public lands, following recommendations from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). These rules aim to reduce rents and fees for renewable energy projects, extend lease terms, eliminate duplicative payments, remove competitive leasing requirements in priority development areas, and streamline the development of standalone energy storage projects on public lands.
SEIA President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper praised the BLM’s final rules, stating that they will make it faster, easier, and cheaper to build clean energy projects on public lands. Hopper emphasized the importance of efficiently deploying clean energy and utilizing the nation’s public lands as a valuable resource. She commended the BLM for collaborating with the solar and storage industry to create rules that will help strengthen the grid and provide reliable clean energy to more consumers. SEIA will continue advocating for practical solutions to achieve ambitious clean energy goals, in support of the new rules introduced by the BLM.