Smart Solar

We can protect wildlands and wildlife, as well as facilitate responsible renewable energy development, when we guide solar projects to Solar Energy Zones.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) identifies Solar Energy Zones on public lands in the Southwest. These areas provide great solar resources and few conflicts with wildlands and wildlife habitat. 

The Wilderness Society works with conservation partners, solar developers and the BLM to ensure the right places are chosen as Solar Energy Zones and solar projects on public lands occur in these zones.

Why smart solar?

Solar development on public lands offers many benefits, from reducing the threat of climate change to creating green jobs. Large-scale projects have impacts on the land, however, so it is important that they be built in the right places and the right ways.  By focusing development in low-conflict zones, we can:

  • Protect wildlands and sensitive wildlife habitat.
  • Facilitate responsible development by using taking advantage of nearby existing roads and power lines. This makes development faster, cheaper and better for the environment, solar developers and consumers.
  • Help plan for the future. Identifying Solar Energy Zones can help plan for new power lines needed to connect solar projects to cities where people and businesses will use the power.

See also:

Report: Smart Solar
Article: Smarter Solar - Where are the right lands to put solar?
Smart Solar - Arizona
Smart Solar - California
Smart Solar - Colorado
Smart Solar - Nevada
Smart Solar - New Mexico
Smart Solar - Utah

What we are doing

The Wilderness Society continues to work in collaboration with:

  • Conservation partners at regional and national organizations
  • Solar developers
  • Government agencies, including the BLM and Department of Energy
  • Utilities that manage the power grid and deliver power to consumers

How we accomplish this work

The BLM is currently developing their plan for solar development on public lands in the six southwestern states.  To improve this plan, known as the Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, we have focused on:

  • Extensive research of the proposed zones, including computer mapping, site visits and consultations with partners and experts
  • Submitting detailed comments to the BLM with recommended improvements on their plan
  • Meeting with conservation partners, solar developers and utilities to build consensus around a plan that works for wild lands, wildlife and solar developers
  • Identifying new potential zones so the solar program has room to grow responsibly

Related Content

Learn about the Crescent Dunes Solar project
The Crescent Dunes Solar project was approved in central Nevada in December 2010. The project is under construction and will produce 110 megawatts of solar energy.
Read more
Where are smart places for renewable energy?
When we work to guide renewable energy development to the most appropriate places, we can avoid damaging sensitive wildlands and wildlife habitat.
Read more
Curious about renewable energy?
Striking the right balance between renewable energy development and wilderness protection raises many questions.
Read more

At a Glance

Some key take-aways from this article include:

  • Solar development on public lands in the Southwest offers great benefits, but must occur in the right places and the right ways.
  • The BLM is developing a plan that focuses solar projects in low-conflict Solar Energy Zones.
  • The Wilderness Society is leading efforts to support and improve this plan to ensure that solar development on public lands protects our natural heritage.

Library Resources