Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sander Levin (9th District of Michigan)
March 24, 2025
Washington, D.C.- Today, Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) reintroduced the Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act, a bill that would encourage domestic energy independence by supporting the responsible development of wind, solar, and geothermal energy on public lands.
The bill will support clean energy development through a streamlined permitting process and revenue sharing for localities and states for projects on public lands. The bill contains key provisions to balance clean energy development in priority areas with conservation of our natural environment.
“Finding new ways to bolster America’s energy independence is critical, but it needs to be clean energy independence,” said Rep. Levin. “This bill would encourage the development of renewable energy projects while protecting and conserving our public lands. Ultimately, this bill will make it easier and faster to build clean energy projects by creating a smoother and more efficient permitting process while providing confidence to developers and ensuring the impacts to wildlife, habitat, and cultural resources are avoided or minimized. I look forward to working with my colleagues to implement additional common-sense measures.”
This legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: The Wilderness Society, American Clean Power Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Solar Energy Industries Association, Trout Unlimited, EDF Renewables, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and National Audubon Society.
“The Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act reintroduced by Representative Levin takes an important step toward improving the permitting process for clean energy projects on public lands,” said Frank Macchiarola, Chief Advocacy Officer at American Clean Power (ACP). “This bill would help strengthen our energy supply chain and support local communities while providing much-needed certainty for developers. We appreciate Representative Levin’s leadership and look forward to working with Congress to accelerate renewable energy development necessary to meet growing demand.”
“Leveling the playing field for solar and storage access on federal lands is critical for meeting rising energy demand and lowering costs for consumers,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “By facilitating responsible solar and storage development on these lands, we can deliver low-cost energy while ensuring the investments and jobs directly benefit communities and taxpayers around these projects. SEIA is proud to support this legislation and thanks Representative Levin for recognizing the important role that federal lands play in advancing America’s energy economy.”
“Hunters and anglers recognize the increasing demand for renewable energy development on public lands and it is our priority to ensure that these projects avoid impacts to fish and wildlife habitat. We thank Rep. Levin for his leadership on the Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act (PLREDA) which would incentivize the development of these projects on previously disturbed or degraded landscapes so that iconic species like mule deer and sage grouse can thrive on intact public lands without conflict. PLREDA would also direct 40% of the revenue collected from renewable energy projects on public lands into a new conservation fund for the benefit of fish and wildlife habitat as well as improved recreational access to public lands.” said Kaden McArthur, Director of Policy and Government Relations, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
“Audubon knows birds and communities both face existential threats from our changing environment. To combat this, we must act quickly and invest in responsibly sited renewable energy and transmission. This important legislation sets bold new targets for the responsible development of next-generation energy on our nation’s public lands while reinvesting in conservation to protect the habitat that birds and wildlife need to thrive,” said Sam Wojcicki, Senior Director of Climate Policy at the National Audubon Society. “The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act strikes an important balance between unleashing the clean energy potential of our public lands, protecting birds and wildlife, and empowering the voices of local communities and Tribes. We thank Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) for his tireless leadership in protecting the environment and communities from increasingly severe climate impacts and for his work advancing PLREDA.”
“Representative Mike Levin’s bill is critical to unleashing the renewable energy potential of our public lands, creating thousands of clean energy jobs and securing American energy independence — all while directing projects toward existing infrastructure and away from sensitive sites with conservation, habitat and cultural values,” said Justin Meuse, Government Relations Director at The Wilderness Society. “Renewable energy decisions on our shared public lands shouldn’t be made in a silo, but in coordination with communities, tribes, the renewable energy industry and the public at large. And this bill helps ensure all parties have a seat at the table when those land use decisions are made. We urge Congress to advance this bill to secure faster, better and cheaper clean energy projects overall, while reinvesting in communities and conservation.”
“This bill is a model for how to site, permit, and build energy projects on federal lands. It proves that through collaboration and compromise, industry and conservation groups can develop good and effective policy,” said Josh Axelrod, Senior Policy Advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “It establishes clear incentives for efficient permitting by directing development to the lowest conflict areas and returning needed revenue to states and counties where projects are built.”
“Federal lands are a significant part of the Western U.S. They must play an important role in ensuring our energy security,” said Virinder Singh, Vice President of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs at EDF Renewables. “Solar energy is a core part of Western state’s energy plans due to low cost and mature technology. Congressman Levin’s legislation recognizes these realities and seeks sorely needed changes in our laws to make the permitting process more sensible, and to ensure local communities benefit as much as possible from local energy projects. We look forward to working with Congressman Levin and others in Congress on this important issue for the West’s and the nation’s energy supply.”
Bill text is available here.
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