• Proposed plan spans over 5,000 acres.
• Public comment ends February 25, 2025.

January 13, 2025 –– The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seeks feedback on a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Ranegras Plains Energy Center solar project on 5,029 acres of public lands in La Paz County, Arizona.  According to the BLM, “The project would also include 56 acres of Arizona state lands and a gen-tie transmission line across six private acres. If approved, the project would produce up to 700 megawatts of clean electricity, enough to power more than 200,000 homes.”

Ranegras Plains Energy Center, LLC has requested a 40-year right-of-way grant to build, operate, and eventually decommission a large-scale solar facility and battery storage system on 5,029 acres of public lands. An 11-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line would link the facility to the Ten West Link 500-kV line.

BLM’s Renewable Energy Commitment.

“The BLM supports efficient development of renewable energy on our nation’s public lands to create clean energy and reduce carbon pollution from the power sector, which furthers the goals outlined in the Energy Act of 2020,” said BLM Yuma Field Manager Ray Castro. “We will continue to engage with Tribal, Federal, state, and local governments, local communities, stakeholder groups, and industry as we evaluate this project.”

BLM has approved 46 renewable energy projects on public lands since January 2021, surpassing its earlier goal of permitting 25 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2025. Overall, BLM-permitted clean energy projects now have a combined capacity of over 34 gigawatts, powering over 15 million homes nationwide.

How to Participate.

A 45-day public comment period for the draft EIS began January 10 and will end February 25, 2025. Details and documents are available on the BLM National NEPA Register, where comments can be submitted via the “Participate Now” button. Comments may also be emailed to BLM_AZ_CRD_Solar@blm.gov or mailed to:

BLM Yuma Field Office
Attn: Ranegras Plains Solar Draft EIS – Public Comment
7341 E 30th St., Suite A
Yuma, AZ 85365-6525

Virtual Public Meeting

The BLM will host a virtual public meeting on February 5, 2025 at 6 p.m. to discuss the project. To join:

• Register for the Zoom Webinar (required):
  https://swca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__5JBOIu5TfuxvPMIM3ikMA
• Instructions and pre-registration details will also be posted on the project website via the BLM National NEPA Register. For reasonable accommodations, contact Derek Eysenbach at deysenbach@blm.gov or 602-417-9505.

About the Region and the BLM.

La Paz County, established in western Arizona, is the 15th county in the state. It is home to 16,557 residents, making it the second-least populous county in Arizona. The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land across 12 western states, including Alaska. Its mission is to sustain America’s public lands’ health, diversity, and productivity for current and future generations.

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