Biden administration to expand solar power on US land

• 2 years ago (2021-12-22)
• David Flin

North America 1021 Solar 272

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US Government officials have approved two large-scale solar power projects in California and have moved to make public land in other Western states available to potential solar power development.

The Interior Department approved the Arica and Victory Pass solar projects on federal land in Riverside County east of Los Angeles. These will have a combined capacity of 465 MW. Approval of a third plant, of 500 MW, is expected before the end of 2021.

The Interior Department has also issued a call to nominate land for development within solar energy zones in Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.

The Bureau of Land Management oversees almost a quarter billion acres of land, primarily in Western states. Tracy-Stone Manning, director of the Agency, said that boosting renewable energy is now one of its top priorities. She said that there are forty large-scale solar proposals under consideration in the Western states.