Bureau of Land Management
Solar Energy Permitting and Program Resources
The BLM's Las Vegas Field Office has identified Boulevard Associates, LLC as successful bidder for the right to submit a solar energy development proposal for the 1,635-acre Dry Lake East Designated Leasing Area, located 10 miles northwest of Las Vegas on BLM managed public lands.
During the 45-day competitive bidding period, BLM received 13 sealed bids. Boulevard Associates, LLC's (a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC) high bid was $10,288,780. The successful bidder will need to submit a right-of-way application within 30 days of notification of the auction result as well as submit a Plan of Development within 60 days.
The BLM's Solar and Wind Energy Rule, published in the Federal Register on December 19, 2016, reduces land and resource conflicts by incentivizing the development of solar projects in designated leasing areas. The Dry Lake East Designated Leasing Area is representative of responsible development, using adaptive management strategies to ensure resources are managed correctly when approved and developed. Boulevard Associates, LLC will incorporate design features into their Plan of Development to minimize impacts to resources.
For more information, see the May 23, 2022, BLM press release.
On April 5, 2022, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a Notice of Competitive Offer and Notice of Segregation for Solar Energy Development in the Federal Register, announcing that it will accept competitive bids to determine a preferred right-of-way applicant for solar energy development on the Dry Lake East Designated Leasing Area, a 1,635-acre parcel of land in Clark County, Nevada.
The BLM will accept sealed bids at the Las Vegas Field Office through May 20, 2022, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time via U.S. Mail, or hand delivered to:
Bureau of Land Management
Attn: Energy and Infrastructure Team
4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89130
Electronic bids will not be accepted. On May 20, 2022, at 1 p.m. Pacific Time, the BLM will open and review all sealed bids for preferred applicant consideration.
The BLM previously completed a Resource Management Plan Amendment and designated the Dry Lake East Designated Leasing Area in January 2020, after coordinating with local, state, and Federal agencies, and consulting with Tribal governments.
The Invitation for Bids package and additional background information are available on the Dry Lake East Designated Leasing Area Environmental Assessment and RMP Amendment project website.
For more information, please contact Beth Ransel at 702-515-5000.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Stillwater Field Office is requesting public comment on a preliminary environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed phase two of the Luning Solar Energy Project submitted by Liberty Utilities LLC. The project would be located next to the existing Luning Solar facility, approximately four miles northeast of Luning, Nevada, in Mineral County. Public comments will be accepted through October 25, 2021.
This EA analyzes a proposal by Liberty Utilities, LLC for a right-of-way, which includes the construction activities and operations associated with the development of the Luning Solar Energy Project Phase II as an expansion of the existing Luning Solar Energy Project Phase I facility. The proposed project would cover 560 acres and consist of several primary components, including approximately 195,000–224,000 photovoltaic modules mounted on single axis trackers, interior and perimeter access roads, a 300-square foot storage building, an electrical collection system, batteries, and power inverters with medium voltage transformers connecting to the existing substation, which will be expanded by 8,700 square feet within the Luning Solar Energy Project Phase I project area. An existing 120-kilovolt generation-tie transmission line would connect the project to the existing NV Energy Table Mountain substation, approximately one mile from the project. The new and existing solar facilities would be operated in a coordinated fashion to restrict the total output from the facilities to a maximum of 50 megawatts.
The Preliminary EA, instructions for submitting comments, and additional project information are available on BLM's Luning Solar Energy Project Phase II project website.
For more information, please contact Katy Paiva at 775-885-6034.
On June 29, 2021, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that MGM Resorts has begun to bring 130 megawatts (MW) of power online from its MEGA Solar Array project. The MEGA Solar Array renewable energy project is located 15 miles northeast of Las Vegas within the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) on 715 acres of public land managed by the BLM Las Vegas Field Office.
In 2015, the BLM approved three solar energy projects on six parcels in the Dry Lake SEZ as a result of a competitive leasing auction and successfully completing the environmental assessment. One of the other approved solar projects, the 179 MW Switch Solar project, has been operational since December 2017. The final two parcels were successfully bid by NV Energy and construction is expected to begin in 2022.
For more details, see the BLM Press Release.
On November 6, 2020, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the approval of the Yellow Pine Solar Project. This decision is supported by the analysis included in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for this project issued in September 2020 under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The Record of Decision (ROD) approves two separate-but-connected right-of-way applications, collectively known as the Yellow Pine Solar Project. First, the ROD approves Yellow Pine Solar, LLC's, right-of-way on public land to construct, operate and maintain a proposed solar energy generation station, with approximately 500 megawatts of generating capacity and ancillary facilities including battery storage. The ROD also approves GridLiance West, LLC's, right-of-way on public land to construct, operate, and maintain a GridLiance West 230-kilovolt Trout Canyon Substation and associated 230-kilovolt transmission line.
The Record of Decision, Final EIS, and other relevant documents are available through BLM National NEPA Register.
For more information, please contact the acting energy & infrastructure project manager at 702-515-5284.
On September 4, 2020, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Yellow Pine Solar Project.
The Final EIS addresses two separate-but-connected right-of-way applications for the Yellow Pine Solar Project. Yellow Pine Solar, LLC, and GridLiance West, LLC, seek to construct, operate, and maintain the project on about 3,000 acres of BLM-administered land in Clark County, Nevada, approximately 10 miles southeast of Pahrump and about 32 miles west of Las Vegas. The project applications include an approximately 500-megawatt solar energy generation station, including battery storage; and a 230‑kilovolt substation and associated 230-kV transmission line.
Key issues raised during the public comment period on the Draft EIS included potential biological, cultural, tribal, soils, vegetation, hydrological, visual and recreational resource impacts, fire risk/hazard, project alternatives, project design features/mitigation, and cumulative effects. The Final EIS includes the revisions made to address the comments on the Draft EIS, including incorporating recommendations from scientific literature and agency funded research to provide additional analysis and documentation on potential impacts and benefits to soils and vegetation.
The Final EIS and other relevant documents are available through BLM's ePlanning website. Following a 30-day Final EIS availability and review period, a Record of Decision will be issued.
For more information, please contact, Whitney Wirthlin, Acting Energy & Infrastructure Project Manager, at 702-515-5284.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for Solar Partners XI, LLC's application for a right-of-way (ROW) grant for the Gemini Solar Project. This decision is supported by the analysis included in the Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) issued in December 2019 under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The project within the jurisdiction of the BLM's Las Vegas Field Office will be constructed, operated, and maintained entirely on about 7,100 acres of BLM-administered lands located about 30 miles northeast of Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada. The project includes a 690-megawatt photovoltaic solar electric generating facility, the largest solar project in U.S. history, and ancillary facilities, such as 34.5-kilovolt overhead and underground collector lines, a 2-acre operation and maintenance facility, three substations, various roads, perimeter fencing, water storage tanks for fire protection, drainage control features, a potential on-site water well or a new water pipeline, and improvements to existing NV Energy facilities to support interconnection. The project also includes a 380-megawatt solar-powered battery system able to store and deploy over 1,400 megawatt hours. The Project is expected to be constructed in two phases. The first phase of power generation could come on-line in 2021 with final completion as early as 2022.
The FEIS along with the ROD are available through BLM's ePlanning website. For more information, please contact the Las Vegas Field Office at [email protected], or [email protected].
The BLM Las Vegas Field Office is reviewing two separate-but-connected right-of-way applications for the Yellow Pine Solar Project. Yellow Pine Solar, LLC (YPS) and GridLiance West, LLC (GLW) seek to construct, operate, and maintain the facility on about 3,000 acres of BLM-administered land, which is located about 10 miles southeast of Pahrump and about 32 miles west of Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada. The project application includes: 1) an up to 500-megawatt photovoltaic solar energy generation station including battery storage; and 2) a 230-kilovolt substation and associated 230-kV transmission line.
On March 20, 2020, the BLM released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement analyzing the environmental impacts of the proposed Yellow Pine Solar Project. The Draft EIS and other relevant documents are available through BLM's ePlanning website. The BLM has opened a 45-day public comment period, which will end on May 4, 2020. Comments can be submitted in one of three ways: 1) Email: [email protected]; 2) Fax: 702-515-5023; or 3) Mail: Yellow Pine Solar Project, Attn: Herman Pinales, BLM Las Vegas Field Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130. Public meetings to discuss the project and its anticipated impact on BLM-managed public lands and resources may be held; alternative ways to provide stakeholder engagement are also currently being explored. The BLM will announce details of any meetings at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, mailings, and on the BLM's ePlanning website.
For more information, please contact, Herman Pinales, Energy & Infrastructure Project Manager, at 702‑515‑5284.
In late December 2019 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement analyzing the environmental impacts of the proposed Gemini Solar Project. Solar Partners, XI LLC (Arevia) proposes to construct, operate and eventually decommission the Gemini Solar Project, which consists of an approximately 690-megawatt alternating current solar photovoltaic power generating facility on roughly 7,100 acres of BLM administered land located about 33 miles northeast of Las Vegas and directly south of the Moapa River Indian Reservation. The Hybrid (BLM Preferred) Alternative would involve solar development utilizing a combination of traditional development methods in solar array areas (on roughly 2,500 acres) and mowing that leaves vegetation and natural land contours in place on the remaining solar array areas (on approximately 4,600 acres).
The BLM received 114 substantive letters and 1,147 individual substantive comments during the 90-day public comment period. Comments on the Draft RMP Amendment and EIS were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS. Public comments did not result in the addition of substantive revisions to the Draft RMP Amendment and EIS that were published in June 2019. Responses to all comments are located in Appendix L of the Final EIS.
The FEIS and other relevant documents are available on the BLM's ePlanning website. The BLM will issue a Record of Decision within approximately 90 days of the publication of the December 27, 2019, Notice of Availability of the FEIS. The Record of Decision will be also be announced in a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
For more information, please contact Nicholas Pay, Acting Energy & Infrastructure Project Manager, at 702‑515‑5284.
The Bureau of Land Management Las Vegas Field Office is seeking public comments on the proposed Gemini Solar Project in Clark County, Nevada. The Gemini Solar Project would consist of the construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning of solar modules and associated facilities necessary to generate up to 690 megawatts of electricity. The proposed project area includes 7,115 acres of public land 25 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and extends approximately six miles north to south and four miles east to west, located adjacent and south/southeast of Interstate 15.
It is estimated that the project would generate up to 2,000 direct jobs at peak construction, with a permanent staff of seven operating the facility after construction.
A Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Land Use Plan Amendment, and a Notice of Segregation for the Proposed Gemini Solar Project in Clark County, Nevada was published in the July 13, 2018, Federal Register, opening a 45-day public comment period which closes on August 27, 2018.
The BLM will announce scoping meetings at least 15 days in advance in a news release that will be posted on the Bureau's website at https://go.usa.gov/xntTQ.
The BLM will consult with Native American tribes on a government-to-government basis in accordance with the applicable laws, regulations, Executive order 13175, and other policies. Tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including impacts in Indian Trust assets.
Written comments may be mailed to the BLM, Southern Nevada District, Energy & Infrastructure Project Manager, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV, 89130, or emailed to [email protected] or faxed to 702-515-5023. For more information, please call Herman Pinales at telephone 702-515-5284.
Before including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, or other personal identifying information in comments, be aware that entire comments-including personal identifying information-may be made publicly available at any time. While commenters can request that personal identifying information be withheld from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
The Bureau of Land Management's Las Vegas Field Office is seeking public comments on a proposed energy project. The Yellow Pine Solar Project (Project) includes 9,290 acres of lands managed by the BLM and would generate up to 1,200 jobs at peak construction. The Project would consist of construction, operation, maintenance and eventual decommissioning of a 250-megawatt solar generation facility. The project's substation would have an interconnection point with the Valley Electric grid for connection to California. The proposed project is located in Clark County at the intersection of Nevada State Route 160 and Tecopa Road, approximately 10 miles southeast of Pahrump, Nevada, and approximately 32 miles west of Las Vegas.
A Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and a Notice of Segregation for the Project was published on June 1 and opened a public comment period which closes on August 30, 2018. The Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate the proposed Project while the temporary segregation of public lands within the application area will promote the BLM's orderly administration of those lands.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to identify relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, visual resources, surface water, recreation, socioeconomic effects and cumulative impacts. The congressionally designated Old Spanish National Historic Trail crosses the area. Habitat for the federally listed desert tortoise is in this proposal area.
Written comments may be mailed to the BLM, Southern Nevada District, Renewable Energy Project Manager, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130, or emailed to [email protected]. For more information, please call Herman Pinales at (702) 515-5284.
More information about the project can be found on the BLM's ePlanning website at https://go.usa.gov/xQF3z.
Before including your address, phone number, email address or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment — including your personal identifying information — may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.