31M Western Acres Threatened by Solar Thanks to New Biden-Harris Rule

Taking the ‘public’ out of public lands one rulemaking at a time...

Residents of 11 Western states should prepare for an influx of solar panels on public lands near them. A Bureau of Land Management rule is designating 31 million acres of Western lands for utility-scale solar projects of 5 megawatts or larger. 

The rule adds areas of land in five states not covered by the original plan: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. It’s funny timing given that solar investment has fallen 12% in the first half of 2024 while wind investment has grown. 

The original rule would have opened 22 million acres to new solar development, which has many disadvantages, including habitat loss. The new rule adds 9 million more acres for consideration. In February, IWF Center for Energy and Conservation director Gabriella Hoffman wrote about the proposed rule:

Net-zero proponents…aren’t considering the many downsides to utility-scale solar. Although touted as a cheaper alternative to conventional energy sources, solar panels are expensive – prices topped $52.69/ per megawatt hour (MWh) in Q4 2023 – and are hazardous to recycle. Its base load is unreliable and dependent on sunlight. Not to mention the potential for “land degradation and habitat loss” since “utility-scale Photovoltaic (PV) systems range from 3.5 to 10 acres per megawatt, while estimates for [concentrating solar-thermal power] CSP facilities are between 4 and 16.5 acres per megawatt.”

This government push for solar, much like wind, is facing opposition from rural communities across the country. The Renewable Rejection Database reports nearly 200 utility-scale solar projects have been rejected since 2013.

The new rule allows for construction within 15 miles of many existing or planned transmission lines and “removes a process whereby the BLM must grant variances to allow utility-scale solar development outside certain, pre-designated areas.”

Opening so much acreage is destined to be overkill. The Nevada Independent crunched the numbers: 

Despite the millions of acres opened up in the plan, the BLM estimates that just up to 700,000 acres (less than half of 1 percent) of the land it oversees in the West could be needed through 2045 for new, utility-scale solar energy projects.

Kevin Emmerich of Basin and Range Watch told the Nevada Independent, “Large-scale solar energy takes the ‘public’ out of public lands by turning over our treasures to one corporate interest.”

The final rule is open for final protests through September 29, 2024, available to “any person who participated [i]n the planning process and has an interest that may be adversely affected.” Participation includes “attending a public meeting, calling the BLM field office,” “discussing the project with BLM employees in the field,” “making oral comments (at a hearing or meeting),” or “sending written comments.” Following final protests, there will be a 60-day governors’ review period before the plan goes into effect. 

Utility-scale solar has its drawbacks, and communities often recognize them. According to the Department of Energy, solar energy has the lowest capacity factor of any electricity source at just 24.6%. Solar facilities are also land-intensive, requiring 75 times more land than a 1,000-megawatt (MW) nuclear facility to produce the equivalent amount of energy.

Solar installation costs aren’t cheap either. It’s estimated consumers will pay $25,000, at minimum, to install panels. Rooftop solar isn’t faring well in the markets, despite getting millions in Inflation Reduction Act subsidies. SunPower just declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

Solar energy development can be smartly deployed. The finalized Biden-Harris Western Solar Plan, however, brings uncertainty and will invite catalyzation of an unreliable renewable source in Western states

This piece was originally published by Independent Women’s Forum on September 11, 2024.