The bipartisan legislation allows wind and solar projects to be co-located on existing oil and gas leases on public lands
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and John Curtis introduced the bipartisan Co-Location Energy Act to streamline permitting for wind and solar projects by allowing them to be co-located on federal land with existing energy leases.
“Our clean energy future is here. We need to meet it,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bipartisan bill will cut unnecessary red tape to speed our energy production and bring more wind and solar projects online quicker.”
“Innovation and efficiency are key as we work to meet energy demands and reduce emissions,” said Curtis. “The Co-Location Energy Act is a commonsense approach that leverages already-leased federal lands for renewable energy development. By expediting permitting and ensuring that previously disturbed areas are fully utilized, this bill strengthens energy supply to the grid without compromising existing operations.”
High infrastructure costs, complex permitting processes, and land acquisition slow the development of renewable energy projects. The Co-Location Energy Act will help unlock more renewable energy by changing the way the federal government evaluates those projects, making it easier to approve them on federal lands already designated for energy production.
Specifically, the legislation directs the Department of the Interior (DOI) to:
- Authorize renewable energy developers to evaluate and, with leaseholder consent, construct clean energy projects on existing oil, gas, coal, and geothermal leased areas
- Expedite the permitting process by assessing if wind and solar production could qualify for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
“Bipartisan action on energy is a win for everyone. Planet Reimagined’s work on the co-location model finds common ground to build new renewable energy projects on top of federal oil and gas land,” said Adam Met, Founder and Executive Director of Planet Reimagined. “I applaud the leadership of Senators Curtis and Hickenlooper and their work to highlight the potential for new energy solutions in the western US by effectively opening up 18 Million acres of current and former oil and gas land for new solar and wind projects. This can generate up to 2000 GW of new electricity, and will go a long way towards securing America’s energy future.”
“The American Clean Power Association strongly supports Senator John Curtis’ Co-Location Energy Act, which will help our nation meet growing energy demands by enabling efficient co-location of renewable energy projects with other energy sources,” said Frank Macchiarola, Chief Advocacy Office of American Clean Power. “It supports a forward-thinking, all-the-above energy strategy, which is essential for ensuring Americans have access to reliable and affordable energy. We commend Senator Curtis for his leadership in advancing policies that drive innovation and strengthen America’s energy infrastructure.”
Full text of the bill is available HERE and a one-pager can be found HERE.
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