LAS VEGAS — Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi visited Las Vegas today to announce the advancement of multiple clean energy projects in Nevada that will create jobs, lower families’ energy costs, and help meet the Biden-Harris administration's renewable energy goals. The announcement comes as the Administration has released new data to demonstrate how historic steps taken to accelerate and improve federal permitting processes are helping deliver more projects efficiently across the United States.

The Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is finalizing two projects and moving forward with two more that will advance new transmission lines and solar facilities across the state, helping deliver clean, reliable energy from the Nevada desert to the Western electric grid and creating jobs for union workers. The two projects receiving approval – the Greenlink West Transmission Project and Libra Solar Project – will unlock up to 4.7 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power nearly 5 million homes.

“From building large-scale transmission lines to solar power generating facilities, the Interior Department and our team at the Bureau of Land Management are leading the way in developing reliable, clean energy across the West,” said Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis. “The infrastructure projects we are advancing today in Nevada are helping meet President Biden’s ambitious renewable energy goals while making communities more energy resilient and creating good-paying jobs in the clean energy economy.”

“Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, we are making critical investments to both strengthen our grid and feed more clean energy to homes and businesses – which will create good-paying union jobs, bolster resiliency, strengthen energy security, and lower Americans’ utility bills,” said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “In Nevada and across the country, our leaps forward to efficiently permit wind, solar, transmission, and other clean energy projects are part of a broader strategy to lead the world in the global clean energy race and fight against pollution – all while protecting our communities and investing in local economies.”

Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, BLM has approved 41 renewable energy projects on public lands (10 solar, 13 geothermal, and 18 gen-ties), allowing for early achievement of its goal to permit 25 gigawatts by 2025. Leaders have also celebrated groundbreakings for TransWest Express Transmission Project, Ten West Link, and SunZia Transmission Project; with Greenlink West becoming the fourth approval during this Administration. With today’s announced progress, BLM has now permitted enough clean energy projects on public lands to power over 12.5 million homes while currently processing another 55 utility-scale project proposals across the West.

“Future generations are depending on us to transition to a clean energy economy,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “As we continue building clean energy projects in Nevada and across the West, we remain committed to collaborating with states, Tribes, and communities to responsibly manage our public lands while creating good-paying jobs.”

Earlier this year, BLM issued a final Renewable Energy Rule aimed at lowering consumer energy prices along with development costs for solar and wind projects by improving project application processes. It also incentivizes developers towards responsible development on public lands. Last month saw BLM release an updated Western Solar Plan proposing a roadmap for solar development on public lands expanding efficient environmentally responsible permitting.

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda aims at growing American economy from middle outwards; rebuilding infrastructure driving over half trillion dollars new private sector manufacturing investments; creating good-paying jobs combating climate crisis making communities resilient.

Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis alongside Climate Advisor Zaidi joined BLM-Nevada State Director Jon Raby plus industry representatives announcing progress:

Greenlink West Transmission Project

BLM is issuing Record Decision Greenlink West Transmission Project creating system new transmission lines/facilities crossing federal/state/Tribal/private lands North Las Vegas-Reno via Clark/Esmeralda/Lyon/Mineral/Nye/Storey/Washoe counties transmitting up-to-4000 megawatts powering least-4.8 million homes post robust environmental review initiated-2023.

Libra Solar Project

BLM issuing Record Decision Libra Solar Project generating/storing up-to-700 megawatts covering approximately-5778 acres Mineral County includes facility/battery storage generating/storing enough power over-212000 homes largest-solar-plus-battery project Nevada one-largest US efficient review initiated-2023.

Greenlink North Transmission Project

BLM opened comment period proposed Greenlink North Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Statement designating potential-210-mile-long-by-3500-foot-wide utility corridor starting near Ely White Pine County crossing public lands Eureka/Lander/Churchill ending near Yerington Lyon unlocking-up-to-4000 megawatts-clean-energy.

Bonanza Solar Project

BLM opened comment period Bonanza Solar Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Statement proposing potential-300-megawatt facility including battery storage plus-gen-tie-line covering approximately–5133-acres Clark/Nye counties near Las Vegas.