Senators re-introduce bill to simplify renewable energy project permitting process

A bipartisan group of senators reintroduced the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act this week, which is aimed at streamlining the permitting process for renewable energy projects on public lands.

Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID), Dean Heller (R-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jon Tester (D-MT), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Tom Udall (D-NM) re-introduced the bill.

“A broad domestic energy supply is critical for America to grow its economy,” Risch said. “This plan helps accomplish that by putting renewable energies under a similar framework as conventional energy sources.
It also requires royalty payments that will benefit Idahoans in the counties and states where the projects occur.”

The legislation would also set up a revenue sharing system to help local communities where projects are located and help mitigate any effects on land, water and wildlife.

“By streamlining renewable energy development, especially in a state with a high wind and solar potential like New Mexico, we can create quality jobs and strengthen our economy as a whole,” Heinrich said. “The Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act will modernize the leasing of public lands for development of solar, wind, and geothermal energy, and transition our nation to cleaner energy sources.”