Mohave Today

Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Paul A. Gosar (AZ-09) announced the reintroduction of H.R. 8954, the Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act (PLREDA) of 2024, aimed at increasing the production of wind, solar, and geothermal energy on public lands.

“The Biden-Harris Administration's unprecedented war on American energy has been catastrophic. Since taking office, Biden has deliberately made it much more difficult, if not impossible, to produce energy here in America. The result is that Americans are paying record high gasoline prices while our enemies have been empowered,” stated Rep. Gosar.

Gosar emphasized that renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal are crucial components of the United States’ comprehensive energy strategy. He asserted that public lands could significantly contribute to countering what he described as President Biden’s detrimental policies on American energy and help restore the country's energy dominance.

To facilitate investment in renewable resources, PLREDA proposes streamlining land use and promoting renewable energy development on federal lands through upfront planning and strategic siting to identify suitable areas for wind, solar, and geothermal projects.

Additionally, the legislation aims to incentivize development in low-conflict priority areas while mitigating impacts on wildlife, habitats, and cultural resources. It also mandates that agencies allocate staffing resources to ensure efficient project permitting processes.

“Importantly, PLREDA is set for a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on July 23 at 10:30 a.m.,” added Rep. Gosar.

JC Sandberg, Chief Advocacy Officer of American Clean Power (ACP), expressed support for the bill: “Increased clean energy deployment on federal lands can play a critical role in meeting our nation’s growing electricity demand.” He continued: “American Clean Power applauds Representative Gosar for introducing the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act which will encourage development of new projects on federal lands while ensuring revenue from their development goes to the states, counties, conservation programs, and taxpayers where these projects are located. It’s a win-win for communities and our nation as a whole.”

ACP looks forward to collaborating with Congress to advance this legislation through the legislative process.

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