Rep. Mike Levin’s Legislation Facilitates New Dept. of Interior Action to Expand Renewable Energy Development on Public Lands
Oceanside, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) applauded the Department of Interior’s (DOI) announcement that it will lower rents and fees for renewable energy projects on federal lands by about 50 percent in order to help expand clean energy development on public lands, promote American clean energy independence, and lower energy costs for consumers. Provisions from Rep. Levin’s Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2019, which were included in the Energy Act of 2020 and became law, enabled DOI to make the rate changes. More information on DOI’s announcement is available here.
“As Americans continue to face worsening effects of the climate crisis and rising energy bills, it’s paramount that we strengthen our clean energy independence to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy costs,” said Rep. Levin. “I am thrilled to see the Interior Department has used provisions of legislation I led to cut rents and fees in half for renewable energy projects on federal public lands. Thanks to that legislation and the Interior’s latest action, we will expedite critical renewable energy development, create good-paying jobs in communities across the country, and reduce the costs of domestic energy.”
Rep. Levin reintroduced his Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act last year with provisions that were not included in the Energy Act of 2020. The bill will further promote the development of wind, solar, and geothermal energy on public lands. The bill includes measures to facilitate investment in high quality renewable sources, ensure a fair revenue share for impacted communities, and minimize impacts to wildlife and cultural sites.
###