Summary

Strengthens and speeds up permitting for wind, solar, and geothermal projects on federal land while keeping protections for wildlife, culture, and multiple uses of public land. It updates national renewable energy goals for federal land, maps priority areas with program‑level environmental reviews, and requires regular updates. It streamlines approvals, sets predictable rents and fees similar to private land, caps annual rent increases to inflation, and standardizes decommissioning bonds. It shares project revenues with states, counties, permitting work, and a new conservation fund that supports habitat, water, and public access near projects, all while preserving site‑specific reviews and the legal requirement to manage for multiple use and sustained yield.

Key Points

• Requires an updated national renewable energy production goal for federal land within 18 months.
• Identifies and updates priority areas for wind, solar, and geothermal through programmatic environmental reviews.
• Maintains site‑specific permitting and environmental review for each project.
• Authorizes BLM State Renewable Energy Coordination Offices to process and approve projects.
• Sets clear permitting timelines, including a 30‑day cost‑recovery agreement and a 180‑day notice‑of‑intent decision window.
• Aligns rents/fees with State/private land practices and caps annual rent increases to inflation.
• Standardizes decommissioning bond requirements and limits capacity fees to markets where they’re common.
• Shares receipts with States, counties, permitting work, and a new conservation fund supporting habitat, water, and access.
• Requires agencies to consider transmission capacity when designating priority areas.
• Reaffirms multiple‑use, sustained‑yield management under existing land laws.

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