The Department of the Interior has completed the Western Solar Plan, which now encompasses the state of Wyoming.

On December 20, 2024, the Department of the Interior (DOI) unveiled a revised Western Solar Plan aimed at facilitating efficient and eco-friendly solar energy permitting on public lands across the western United States. 

The initiatives of the Department of the Interior (DOI) pertaining to clean energy on public lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). As of 2021, the BLM has successfully authorized 45 renewable energy projects on these lands, exceeding its target of permitting 25 gigawatts of renewable energy by the year 2025.

As per the DOI, the revised strategy intends to direct the siting of solar energy initiatives in regions with minimal resource conflicts. It aims to bolster the development of the nation’s expanding clean energy sector, lower energy expenses for consumers, generate high-quality job opportunities, tackle the climate emergency, and promote priorities related to clean air and environmental justice. 

This initiative is in line with the broader objective of attaining a fully clean electricity grid by the year 2035. 

According to the DOI, “The revised Western Solar Plan recognizes that there are more than 31 million acres of public land available across 11 western states for utility-scale solar project proposals. Nevertheless, it is estimated that only about 700,000 acres will likely be utilized by 2045 to satisfy the expected demand.”

The initial Western Solar Plan encompassed six states in the southwestern region: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

Following the update, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming have now been included.

The approval of the revised Western Solar Plan comes after the release of a draft plan in January 2024 and a proposed plan in August 2024. 

It incorporates feedback gathered from a wide range of stakeholders, including governments and various interested entities, throughout the entire process. 

The suggested plan went through a 30-day public objection phase and a 60-day consistency evaluation by the governor before the BLM made the decision to approve it.

Assistance with planning

This initiative builds upon numerous executive actions implemented by the Biden-Harris administration aimed at streamlining and enhancing federal permitting processes to expedite the delivery of projects.

According to the press release from the DOI, "The initiative aims to facilitate solar project development by pinpointing areas close to transmission lines and previously disturbed sites as suitable for project proposals, while deliberately excluding sensitive locations such as specially protected lands, areas with significant cultural resources, and crucial wildlife habitats."

It also highlights that this will promote responsible development, accelerate the permitting process, and offer enhanced predictability for the solar energy sector.

"In the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior (DOI) has acted decisively to respond to current challenges and foster a thriving, sustainable clean energy economy, all while safeguarding vital resources on America’s public lands. According to DOI Secretary Deb Haaland's press release, the newly revised Western Solar Plan, developed with significant public feedback, will promote the responsible expansion of solar energy throughout the West for years ahead."

Dr. Steve Feldgus, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, emphasizes, “Solar energy stands out as a cost-effective and rapidly expanding element of our nation's contemporary power infrastructure, contributing significantly to the establishment of a robust and resilient clean energy economy in the U.S. The revised Western Solar Plan aims to streamline