Bureau of Land Management Solar Energy Permitting and Program Resources

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The Public Draft Programmatic EIS for Utility-Scale Solar Development on BLM-Administered Lands is available for public comment – details on public engagement are available on the 2023/2024 Solar Programmatic EIS page.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared this website to provide Solar Energy Permitting Resources to aid BLM staff, solar energy developers, other regulators, and the public in understanding:

  • Permitting requirements for utility-scale solar energy development on public lands, including Competitive Leasing and a Non-Competitive Process;
  • Program decisions and requirements established through the 2017 Competitive Leasing regulations and other planning activities; and
  • Information on activities and initiatives related to BLM's Solar Program.
Click on your area of interest in the map legend below for location-specific information: Arrow pointing down
Map showing the Western U.S. and Alaska. Areas noted include Solar Energy Zones, Designated Leasing Areas (DLAs), Variance Areas, Exclusion Areas, Protected Areas, BLM-Administered Land in States Outside 2012 Western Solar Plan Area, and Solar Planning Regions.
2013 Restoration Design Energy Project (RDEP) ROD and Land Use Plan Amendments DRECP ROD (Exclusion Areas) 2016 Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) Record of Decision (ROD) and Land Use Plan Amendment 2012 Western Solar Plan BLM-Administered Lands Outside 2012 Western Solar Plan Area Legislative and Legally Protected Areas 2012 Western Solar Plan (Exclusion Areas) DRECP ROD (Variance Areas) 2012 Western Solar Plan (Variance Areas) DRECP Development Focus Areas (DFAs) RDEP Renewable Energy Development Areas (REDAs) 2012 Western Solar Plan Solar Energy Zones (SEZs)