Notice of Availability of the Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments and Record of Decision for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development

The Bureau of Land Management issued a Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments on December 19, 2024, updating the public lands management framework for utility-scale photovoltaic solar energy development across approximately 162 million acres in 11 western states. The amendments amend over 150 existing RMPs. They exclude approximately 131 million acres from solar development to protect sensitive resources and make approximately 31 million acres available, including 3.8 million acres of designated avoidance lands. The ROD is effective immediately, with no private applicant; the action is a programmatic federal land use planning decision.

Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development and Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendments

The Bureau of Land Management published a Notice of Availability for the Final Programmatic EIS and Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendments for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development, covering approximately 162 million acres of public land across 11 Western states. The BLM analyzed 6 alternatives, including no action. The Proposed RMP would exclude roughly 131 million acres from solar applications and make approximately 31 million acres available, focusing development near existing transmission infrastructure and previously disturbed lands. A 30-day protest period begins upon EPA publication of its Notice of Availability, with a Record of Decision anticipated in December 2024.