ACP’s Discloses Position on BLM’s Strategy for Solar Expansion in Western United States

Frank Macchiarola, Chief Policy Officer of the American Clean Power Association (ACP), issued the following statement in relation to the publication of the draft Western Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

“Solar energy had a strong year in 2023 and looks to build on that upward trajectory, modernizing our power systems and economy in the process. The Western United States has proved critical in driving this and prior deployment. We are hopeful that BLM’s action today—which identified 22 million available acres and takes proximity to transmission into account for development in the Western U.S.—will help expedite the permitting of solar energy on public lands which has historically lagged private land deployment. ACP appreciates BLM’s ongoing work in this area, and we look forward to working with them and other stakeholders to realize the full potential of responsible clean energy development on public lands.”