Heinrich Works To Streamline Permitting for Renewable Energy Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, announced he introduced S. 1407, the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act, with U.S. Senators Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.). The bipartisan bill simplifies the permitting process for solar, geothermal and wind projects on public lands.

"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. This bill also directs revenues from these projects to impacted counties and critical wildlife habitat conservation projects," Sen. Heinrich said. "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."

The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act streamlines the environmental review of solar, wind, and geothermal projects on public lands and establishes a program at the Department of the Interior focused on making the permitting process more efficient. The legislation also establishes a revenue share systems that aids local communities that are home to potential projects and helps mitigate the impact construction could have on the land, water, and on wildlife.

The bill builds off the feedback gathered at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing Senator Heinrich participated in last July.