Bureau of Land Management
Solar Energy Permitting and Program Resources
The principal BLM regulations that affect the processing of right-of-way (ROW) applications for development on public lands are included in 43 CFR 2800. These regulations were originally published in 2005 under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. These regulations were updated in 2016 and most recently in 2024 (FR Vol 89, pages 35634-35684) on May 1, 2024. The new rule went into effect on July 1, 2024. The updated Renewable Energy Rule reduces acreage rents and capacity fees, improves the BLM's application process, and delivers greater predictability for how the BLM will administer future solar and wind project authorizations. The updates also revised requirements for competitive leasing within “designated leasing areas” (DLAs) and the non-competitive permitting process for issuing solar energy ROWs on other public lands.