July 13, 2016
Contact: Kyle Roerink
Phone: 202-657-3219

Today Congresswoman Dina Titus applauded her colleagues in the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources  for holding a hearing on legislation she’s co-sponsoring  to promote renewable energy development. The Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2015, H.R. 2663, will encourage renewable energy development by simplifying the permitting process for wind, solar, and geothermal energy generation on federal land. The bill also protects lands by directing federal proceeds from royalties and rental payments for conservation projects.  

“With this legislation Nevada can continue developing as one of the nation’s leading renewable energy markets,” Rep. Titus said. “This bill will give the federal government the ability to deploy renewable energy resources in a 21st Century framework that allows us to battle climate change and grow our economy. The nation cannot afford to waste any more rays of sunshine, plumes of steam, and gusts of wind.”

Background

The Bureau of Land Management has identified 20.6 million acres of public land with wind potential and over 19 million acres with solar potential. But the current lack of a regulatory and statutory structure governing access to federal land has hindered the rapid development of renewables. 
Renewable energy companies need a more streamlined permitting process. The nation also lacks a fair revenue structure that benefits states and counties affected by renewable development. 
The legislation will establish the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund to be used for conserving land affected by renewable development. It directs revenues, including royalties and rental payments from renewable projects on public lands, to counties, the states, and the Fund.