U.S. Interior Department Finalizes Western Solar Plan to Expand Solar Energy on 31.7 Million Acres

The U.S. Interior Department recently finalized an update to its Western Solar Plan, which could allow solar energy projects on 31.7 million acres of public lands in the western United States, including 3.8 million acres in Wyoming. This update is part of President Biden’s push for renewable energy to combat climate change.

The areas considered for solar development in Wyoming represent about 20% of the land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the state. However, certain sensitive areas, such as those important for wildlife like sage grouse and ungulate migration corridors, are excluded.

The updated plan builds on a previous initiative started in 2012 under President Obama, which focused solar development in high-sun areas of the Southwest. Under Biden, the plan has been expanded to include more states, including Wyoming.

The Interior Department says that even though 31.7 million acres are available, only around 700,000 acres are expected to be developed for solar energy. The goal is to provide flexibility for solar projects while also ensuring that each project is carefully reviewed with public input.

Conservation groups have expressed cautious support for the plan, saying it will help improve energy security and create jobs, while also protecting valuable environmental resources. However, some critics, like environmental professor Dustin Mulvaney, warn that the plan is too broad and could lead to lawsuits and conflicts over its impact on sensitive ecosystems, such as migration corridors and wildlife habitats.

In Wyoming, two solar farms are already operational, and more are being proposed. The BLM has approved significant clean energy projects in the region, but concerns remain about balancing development with environmental protection.