Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI), Deb Haaland, recently participated in a clean energy roundtable in Las Vegas on May 31 to discuss ongoing plans to support 250,000 megawatts of sustainable energy production on public lands by 2025, according to a DOI press release.
Haaland also proposed implementing a new policy within the DOI to permit reduced rates and rent on public lands designated for wind and solar energy production industries.
"Clean energy projects on public lands have an important role to play in reducing our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and lowering costs for families," Haaland stated, "As we seek to advance President Biden’s clean energy goals, the Department of the Interior is continuing to meet the moment in coordination with local, state and elected officials, Tribes, and conservation and industry groups to help ensure we modernize America’s power infrastructure while creating jobs and bolstering climate resilience."
The DOI states in the press release that it plans to reduce rent and costs for sustainable energy generation on public property by more than 50%.
According to the DOI, this will be achieved by reduced acreage leasing rates as well as a set price per megawatt generated.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) made the decision to reduce land and production fees after receiving input from the public on how to increase sustainable energy production.
The DOI states that it has boosted the generation of renewable energy by 35% from 2020 to 2021.
In addition, the DOI claims that it is on track to boost its output of renewable energy by an even greater amount in 2022 and that its planned cost reductions are anticipated to promote the generation of renewable energy.
The BLM will be expanding its operations in the Southwest United States to help manage and facilitate the anticipated increase in production.
The bureau is currently planning to open new offices in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah, as well as expand existing its operations in Colorado and Idaho.
The New York Times reports the DOI is currently under scrutiny for postponing its five-year offshore leasing plan, which would have authorized oil drilling off the coast of Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.
According to the report, this postponement demonstrates the Biden administration's dedication to alternate energy sources.
