Yuma, Arizona. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be holding an open house at the Yuma Public Library on February 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. to provide information about the Department of the Interior's continued efforts to support appropriate renewable energy development in Yuma. Hold a meeting. Protect our nation's public lands through the latest Western Solar Plan. The public meeting previewed BLM's proposed revisions to the agency's Utility-Scale Solar Energy Program Environmental Impact Statement (known as the Updated Western Solar Energy Plan), which would improve the location of BLM's solar energy projects. The framework will be streamlined and the coverage of BLM's solar energy program will be expanded. Five more states in the west.

“BLM is committed to ensuring public lands play their role in achieving our nation's clean energy goals.” BLM Director Tracy Stonemanning said.. “We can and must do so responsibly, and we look forward to hearing from the public on how to achieve that balance.”

By directing development to areas with fewer sensitive resources, fewer conflicts with other uses of public land, and closer to power lines, BLM leverages the strong public and tribal involvement that is a central feature of all BLMs. can allow clean energy to be delivered more efficiently while preserving energy efficiency. Review of individual projects.

Yuma Public Library is located at 2951 S. 21st Drive, Yuma, AZ 85364, Rooms A, B, and C.

If you require special assistance, such as a sign language interpreter or other reasonable accommodation, please contact BLM in advance at solar@blm.gov.

The latest Western Solar Plan evaluates six alternatives, each with varying requirements such as proximity to transmission infrastructure, designated critical habitat, or other important ecological and cultural resources. It proposes that varying amounts of public land be made available for solar power development under specific standards. Public input will produce a final programmatic environmental impact statement and record of decision.

More information about the latest Western Solar Energy Plan and BLM's ongoing efforts to promote sustainable solar energy development on public lands throughout the West is available at: BLM's Solar Program Website.

The Draft Solar Program EIS was published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2024, and a public comment period has begun until April 18, 2024. In addition to this public meeting, BLM will hold two virtual public meetings and five other in-person public meetings. During the comment period. Public meetings will begin with the first virtual meeting on February 5, 2024 and end with the last virtual meeting on March 6, 2024.

To view the draft programmatic EIS and learn how to provide comments, visit BLM's ePlanning website. https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022371/510.