BLM puts forward plan for 1 GW of solar on Arizona public lands

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has initiated a review of three solar projects in Arizona as part of a wider plan for photovoltaic (PV) capacity deployment on public lands in the Western US.

The proposal was launched on Monday and concerns projects that could collectively add around 1 GW of power generation capacity to the grid.

Scoping meetings are due to be announced for environmental analysis of a solar project with a potential capacity of up to 600 MW. Jove, as it is called, envisages the installation of PV modules on 3,495 acres (1,414 hectares) of public land in southeastern La Paz County. Additionally, a two-year segregation will make available over 4,400 acres of land for the 250-MW Pinyon Solar project in Maricopa County and the 300-MW Elisabeth Solar scheme in Yuma County.

“Our review of these proposed projects in Arizona, and a new analysis of the role public lands can play in furthering solar energy production, will help ensure we keep the momentum going to build a clean energy future, lower costs for families and create robust conservation outcomes on the nation’s lands and waters,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.

BLM noted it is currently processing 65 utility-scale proposals for wind, solar, geothermal and interconnection facilities on public lands.

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