The Biden administration has announced Thursday that the Department of the Interior has surpassed its target to permit 25 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy projects on federal lands by 2025, a significant stride toward achieving sustainable energy goals,
This milestone was achieved alongside the finalization of a Renewable Energy Rule aimed at promoting solar and wind development in prioritized areas.
US Surpasses 25GW Clean Energy Milestone
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland shared the news on X (formerly Twitter).
"WE DID IT! [Bureau of Land Management - National] has now permitted more than 25 gigawatts of clean energy projects - surpassing a major milestone ahead of 2025 - enough clean energy to power more than 12 million homes across the country," the post read.
WE DID IT! @BLMNational has now permitted more than 25 gigawatts of clean energy projects – surpassing a major milestone ahead of 2025 – enough clean energy to power more than 12 million homes across the country. https://t.co/L1ScpVr1z8
— Secretary Deb Haaland (@SecDebHaaland) April 11, 2024
This achievement is part of President Biden's vision to decarbonize the US power grid by 2035, a crucial step in addressing climate change and ensuring energy security.
Haaland emphasized the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to clean energy development, which also aligns with efforts to create jobs while ensuring a sustainable future.
"The Interior Department will continue to advance projects that will add enough clean energy to the grid to power millions more homes and help ensure a livable planet for future generations," she said in a statement.
The Interior Department has already permitted nearly 29 GW of clean energy on public lands, which is enough to power more than 12 million homes.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), managing vast federal lands, has permitted over 7 GW of projects since 2021, with plans for an additional 32 GW of renewable energy in the pipeline.
New BLM Renewable Energy Rule Aims to Boost Clean Energy, Job Creation
The Department also announced a new Renewable Energy rule from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to lower consumer energy costs and streamline the development of solar and wind projects on public lands.
This move is expected to further accelerate clean energy development and lower consumer energy costs.
The rule also supports job creation in the clean energy sector and encourages the use of American-made materials.
Looking ahead, the administration is actively identifying areas in 11 western states suitable for solar energy development.
This ongoing effort aligns with the broader strategy to expand clean energy infrastructure and ensure a sustainable energy future.
In tandem with these developments, the BLM announced the operational status of two significant solar projects in California, contributing 465 megawatts of clean electricity to the grid.
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