The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on a proposed 500-megwatt photovoltaic solar project on public lands near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County. Managing editor Tami Roleff has more information…
IP Land Holdings, wants to build the Oberon Solar Project on 4,700-acres of BLM-managed public lands near Desert Center, south of Joshua Tree National Park. It estimates the project would create 750 temporary jobs and eight permanent jobs, and generate enough clean electricity to power 200,000 homes. The proposed project includes battery storage and interconnecting power lines. The environmental assessment will analyze the potential impacts the proposed solar project would have on air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, hydrology, socioeconomics and other relevant issues. The proposed project may also require an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan. Public comment is sought on this project.
This is one of the first projects seeking approval under the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, a landscape-level plan that streamlines renewable energy development while conserving unique and valuable desert ecosystems and providing outdoor recreation opportunities. The Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan is focused on 10.8 million acres of public lands in the desert regions of seven California counties – Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego.
“The BLM continues to play a role in meeting the nation’s energy needs through the development of renewable energy resources on public lands,” said Acting BLM Field Manager Janet Cheek. “We are committed to conducting a thorough review of the project and greatly value the public’s input during this process.”
The Oberon Solar Project supports the Department of the Interior’s clean energy future priority with the goal of achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. Across California, solar projects on BLM-managed public lands have the capacity to generate 6,500 MW of clean electricity for California businesses and residents.
The BLM is seeking public comments on issues, planning criteria, concerns, potential impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures that should be considered in the analysis. A virtual public scoping meeting is scheduled April 13, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. You can join the meeting using the link or phone number below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84009948080
Webinar ID: 840 0994 8080
Telephone Access: (669) 900-6833
Additional information about the meeting and project is available online at https://go.usa.gov/xfdH5.
The deadline to submit public comment is April 19, 2021. Substantive comments will be used to prepare an environmental analysis, which will provide additional opportunities for public comment. More details and instructions for submitting public comment can be found in a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register.
For additional information, please contact the BLM at [email protected].
