The Biden administration plans to make federal lands cheaper to access for solar and wind power developers after the clean power industry argued in a lobbying push this year that lease rates and fees are too high to draw investment and could torpedo the president’s climate change agenda, write (NEE.N), Southern (SO.N), and EDF did not comment when contacted by Reuters.
In June, the Bureau lowered rents in three California counties. But solar representatives called the measure insufficient, arguing the discounts were too small and that the megawatt capacity fee remained in place.
Attorneys for both the solar companies and BLM have discussed the issue in phone calls since, and further talks are scheduled for September, according to Peter Weiner, the attorney representing the solar group.
“We know that the new folks at BLM have had a lot on their plates,” Weiner said. “We truly appreciate their consideration.”