Hello, energy enthusiasts and sunshine lovers! As your trusted source for all things solar, today, I’m here with some exciting updates about a game-changing initiative that is bound to reshape how we interact with the sun’s bountiful energy.
Notice the term “Western Solar Plan”? Well, that’s been bouncing around a lot in the world of solar companies. It’s a comprehensive guide designed to steer solar development on public lands in an environmentally responsible manner. The plan, governed by the U.S Bureau of Land Management (BLM), has just undergone its first major update in over a decade!
Let’s delve into the juicy details. Initially, when the plan was first published in 2012, it had under the spotlight six states renowned for their high solar potential: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Naming these states was no random pick; their selection was carefully based on their high solar potential and low resource conflicts.
However, the fresh update has refined this analysis while generously expanding its coverage to five additional states: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. In total, the newly envisioned plan points out 22 million acres of land spanning across these eleven states as the crème de la crème spots for solar development.
Happy to hear about the expansion, right? That’s not all. The document throws its weight behind focusing solar development in areas with fewer sensitive resources, reduced chances of conflict with other public land uses, and, importantly, proximity to transmission lines. An impressive 200,000 acres of land near the existing transmission infrastructure have been identified for this purpose.
When it comes to solar panels for your home, the central tenant is – the more, the merrier. Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at SEIA, Ben Norris, lauded this proposal as a “big step in the right direction,” acknowledging the crucial role that solar plays in our energy economy. According to him, at least 80 million acres of federal lands are open to oil and gas development, which is a whopping 100 times the public land currently available for solar.
But the good news flow doesn’t stop there. The BLM has also outlined next steps on numerous renewable projects in Arizona, California, and Nevada. These projects represent over 1,700 MW of potential solar generation. Whoa! And under the Biden administration, approval has been granted to 47 clean energy projects – translating to enough power for over 3.5 million homes.
So, what does this all mean for a homeowner contemplating an investment in solar? A solar array for the home is no longer an ambitious thought but an easily achievable reality. This clearly shows that solar is more than just an alternative. It’s fast becoming the preferred choice for powering things forward into the future.
In 2023, the SEIA forecasted a massive addition of 33 GW of solar capacity across the country. So remember, think clean, think green and let’s plaster our future with solar panels – the sun’s gifts that just keep on giving. Until next time, keep soaking up the positivity and let the sun power your dreams.
Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/01/18/u-s-government-identifies-22-million-acres-for-solar-in-western-states/
