Renewable Energy Development on Federal Lands

Concerns over reliance on imported oil and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use have led to increased interest in producing electricity from renewable sources, including wind, solar, and geothermal energy. Because federal lands, including those managed by the Departments of Agriculture and Interior, encompass areas with high renewable energy potential, interest has increased in permitting such activity on those lands. EPAct 2005 includes several provisions intended to increase renewable energy development on federal lands, including goals for approving renewable energy projects. This book examines the status of renewable energy permitting on federal land, including time frames for processing permits applied for since 2005; and the actions federal land management agencies have taken to facilitate this development.