The Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act (PLREDA) of 2019 would streamline the permitting process for renewable energy development on public lands and establish a revenue sharing mechanism to ensure local communities receive a percentage of the revenue created by these projects.
“Geothermal, solar, and wind energy are all critical in an all-of-the-above energy solution that keeps costs low and our nation’s energy supply secure,” said Gardner. “The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act streamlines the permitting process for renewable energy projects to be developed on public lands. By focusing on responsibly developing renewable energy, we have an opportunity to make a better life for all Americans.”
PLREDA would include the following:
- Use upfront planning and careful siting to identify appropriate areas for wind, solar and geothermal energy development and incentivize development in these lower-conflict priority areas.
- Ensure impacts to wildlife, habitat and cultural resources are avoided and minimized.
- Direct agencies to provide staffing resources to ensure project permitting moves forward as efficiently as possible.
- Distribute certain revenues derived through this Act by returning:
- 25 percent to the state where development takes place,
- 25 percent to counties of origin,
- 15 percent to more efficiently processing permit applications and reducing the backlog of renewable energy permits,
- 35 percent into a fund for conservation of fish and wildlife habitat and increasing access for outdoor recreation like hunting and fishing.
