The Bureau of Land Management announced the approval of the Oberon Solar Project Jan. 13.
The project, which will be built on approximately 2,600 acres of public lands near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County, California, is expected to have an output of 500 megawatts of clean, renewable energy, enough to power 200,000 homes, a BLM press release stated.
“The Oberon Solar Project is another example of how our public lands are playing a key role in contributing to the nation’s renewable energy portfolio," BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said in the release. "We’re grateful for the collaboration between Tribal governments, local communities, state regulators, industry, and other federal agencies that is shaping responsible development on America’s public lands for the benefit of current and future generations."
The Oberon Solar Project was opened up to public input in August 2021, when the BLM solicited public comments, according to the release. Following that period, Oberon was named as one of three projects the BLM would pursue in December.
Construction could begin in February with $2.6 billion in funding already obtained for the work, the Desert Sun reported.
"The BLM will engage with Tribal governments, local communities, state regulators, industry, and other federal agencies as it evaluates this project," according to the release.
