← Back to Pahrump

Document Pahrump_doc_485db1c737

Full Text

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District – Renewable Energy Program Update Bureau of Land Management U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management July 5, 2022 ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Agenda • Overview - Renewable Energy Application Review • Workload Summary • Project Overview By Area ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management 3 Renewable Energy Project Application Review Process Project Application Received Project Prioritization Process Application Evaluation BLM to Determine Whether to Process or Deny Application after application evaluation NEPA Process If BLM determines to continue process the application • Interdisciplinary Team Review • Priority Determination • Solar Variance Process (if applicable) • Public Information Forums • Agency Coordination • NEPA Analysis • Public Involvement ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Renewable Energy Application Evaluation Process • The right-of-way regulations provide direction on solar and wind energy development applications located on BLM managed public lands. • The BLM evaluates the appropriateness of right-of-way applications for utility-scale solar energy development on a case-by-case basis, based on: – Environmental considerations – Coordination with appropriate federal, state, and local agencies and Tribes – Public outreach • The regulations state information provided by the applicant and other parties can be utilized when evaluating the appropriateness of an application. • As part of the evaluation, the BLM schedules a public information forum and an agency meeting to gather input. 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Renewable Energy Application Evaluation Process • Information gathered during the input period will inform the application evaluation process including the BLM determination on whether to continue to process or to deny the right-of-way application. • The application evaluation determination is separate and comes before the National Environmental Policy Act process. 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management • Construction: Active – Yellow Pine Solar (250MW of 500MW) (Pahrump Valley) – Gemini Solar (690MW) • Construction: Pending – Dry Lake Solar (NV Energy) (150MW) (Dry Lake SEZ) • Support for Solar Development on Moapa Reservation (Gen-tie lines and other supporting infrastructure) – Arrow Canyon Solar – Construction Active – Southern Bighorn Solar I & II (ROW pending) – Chuckwalla Solar – DEIS under development – Yah-Thumb Solar – DEIS under development E&I Team Workload Summary ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management 29 Pending Applications for Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Development Projects (As of July 5, 2022) • Pahrump Valley (5 applications) • Amargosa (15 applications) • Indian Springs (2 applications) • Jean • Laughlin • APEX area • Vicinity of Moapa Reservation 3 Pending Applications for Wind Energy Site Testing and Monitoring (Type II applications) (Not in FY2022-2025 Plan of Work) E&I Team Workload Summary Cont’d ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Pahrump Valley Overview Map ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Next Step: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS & RMPA Status: Application Evaluation Approved; proposed project lands segregated from mineral entry Project Stats – • Applicant: Copper Rays Solar, LLC (Leeward) • 5,127 acres • 700 MW • Nye County • Interconnection at VEA Gamebird Substation Project Website: Pahrump Valley: Copper Rays Solar ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Next Step: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS & RMPA Status: Application Evaluation (Variance) Approved; proposed project lands segregated from mineral entry Project Stats – • Applicant: Candela Renewables • 2,400 acres • 400 MW • Clark County • Interconnection at Trout Canyon Substation (Gridliance) Project Website: Pahrump Valley: Rough Hat Clark County Solar ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Next Step: Application Evaluation Status: Proposed project lands segregated from mineral entry, public information forums scheduled for July 19 & 20, 6-8pm Project Stats – • Applicant: Candela Renewables • 2,400 acres • 400 MW • Clark County • Interconnection at Trout Canyon Substation (Gridliance) Project Info: variance-process-virtual-public-information-forums-golden Pahrump Valley: Golden Currant Solar ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Rough Hat Nye County Solar • Status – Paused • Stats: Candela Renewables / 2,400 acres / 500MW / Nye County / proposed project lands segregated from mineral entry Mosey Solar • Status – Pending Prioritization • Stats: Renew Development HoldCo LLC (Clearway) / 3,472 acres / 500 MW / Clark & Nye Counties Pahrump Valley: Other Applications ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Northwest area of PFO – 15 pending applications ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Status: BLM is coordinating with NPS/FWS on next steps for considering Solar Energy Development outside the Solar Energy Zone in the Amargosa area. Information - • Northwest area of Pahrump Field Office is in Nye County • Most of Northwest area of PFO is identified as NPS Area of High Potential Resource Conflict (Solar PEIS). • Most of the Northwest area of the PFO is identified as Priority 2 Desert Tortoise Connectivity Habitat (Solar PEIS). • Sensitive beetle species endemic to Big Dune and Lava Dune. • Concerns relating to groundwater use. • Solar Exclusion (Solar PEIS) area – Orken II application wholly within Solar Exclusion. Northwest area of PFO - Overview ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Amargosa Valley: Amargosa Valley Solar Energy Zone Map ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Northwest area of the PFO: Amargosa Valley Solar Energy Zone Status: Determination of NEPA Adequacy (DNA) for leasing action – Reviewing and addressing public comments Next Step: Competitive offering for issuance of solar energy development leasing (7,232 acres). Website: ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Indian Springs: Bonanza Solar Map ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Indian Springs: Bonanza Solar Next Step: Application Evaluation (Variance Process) – Target Fall of 2022 Status: Working on Variance Factor - Priority 1 Desert Tortoise Connectivity Project Stats – • Applicant: Bonanza Solar, LLC (EDF Renewables) • 5,133 acres • 300-600 MW • Nye and Clark Counties • Desert View Substation Interconnection FAST-41 Dashboard: ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Indian Springs: Other Application South Ridge Solar • Status: Not in FY2022-2025 Plan of Work • Stats: Solar PEIS “Pending Application” / 2,250 acres / 50 MW / Medium Priority / (Leeward) ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Dry Lake East Designated Leasing Area ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Dry Lake East Designated Leasing Area: Dry Lake East Energy Center Solar Project Next Step: Environmental Analysis / Development of Regional Mitigation Strategy Status: Preferred Applicant Determined (13 bids received, winning bid $10,288,780); Application received; Plan of Development Filing Due July 18th. Project Stats – • Applicant: Boulevard Associates, LLC (NextEra) • 1,635 acres • 200 MW • Harry Allen Substation Interconnection ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Eldorado Valley: Townsite Solar 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Eldorado Valley: Townsite Solar 2 Next Step: Application Evaluation Input Meetings (Agencies / Public) Status: Prioritization Completed – High Priority Project Stats – • 80 acres • 19 MW • Clark County • Interconnection at WAPA Substation ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Searchlight: Kulning Wind Energy Project ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Searchlight: Kulning Wind Energy Project (Not in FY2022-2025 Plan of Work) Next Step: Application Evaluation (CPP - Initiate work 2026) Status: Low Priority Project, may not be feasible to authorize Project Stats – • Applicant: Crescent Peak Renewables (Eolus) • 9,264 acres • 308 MW • Clark County • Sloan Canyon Switching Station Interconnection FAST-41 Dashboard: 25 ---PAGE BREAK--- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Contact Information EMAIL: MAIL: BLM Southern Nevada District Office Attn: Energy & Infrastructure Team 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive Las Vegas, NV 89130