## Unlocking the Potential of Solar Energy on Federal Lands
Renewable energy is the key to a sustainable future, and solar power continues to lead the charge toward a cleaner energy landscape. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a shockingly small amount of federal land—less than 5% of the suitable areas—would need to be developed to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035. This groundbreaking data highlights just how attainable a solar-powered future can be with efficient use of available land and resources.
### Federal Land: A Resource-Rich Opportunity for Solar Power
Federal lands in the United States represent a vast and largely untapped resource for renewable energy development. NREL reports that the U.S. federal government manages over 640 million acres of land. Out of this, an estimated 44 million acres are suitable for utility-scale solar installations, with the technical potential for generating a staggering 5,750 GW of solar energy. That’s enough to power a significant portion of the country with clean, renewable electricity.
The study reveals that only a fraction of this land—around 2 million acres—would need to be developed to meet the U.S. goal of net-zero carbon electricity by 2035.
Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/01/16/just-a-fraction-of-federal-land-could-power-carbon-free-future/
