California Desert Solar Energy Project Gets Approval, Interior Department Nods

With the potential of delivering enough power to energize around 87,500 homes, the administration of United States President Joe Biden shared on Monday about the approval of a major solar energy project in the California desert for the state's public lands.

The latest announcement from the Biden administration came after the U.S. President vowed to expand the development of renewable energy projects on public lands across the country. It is also a way for the Biden administration to fight climate change and create job opportunities for the American people. The Biden administration also wants to cut the emphasis on maximizing fossil fuel extraction.

The Interior Department mentioned in a statement that the $550 million Crimson Solar Project will be sited on 2,000 acres of federal land west of Blythe, California. The said Solar project is being expanded by a Canadian developer, CSIQ unit Recurrent Energy. It will also deliver power to California utility Southern California Edison.

According to Reuters, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland shared in a statement that solar projects like this can help make America a global leader in the clean energy economy. The solar project can accelerate and boost the responsible renewable energy development on public lands of California. Haaland also added that it is time for clean energy, and Americans must not hesitate in making bold investments that will tackle climate change that will result in good-paying American jobs.

In addition, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Land and Minerals Laura Daniel-Davis also stated that the public lands of America provide a tremendous opportunity if people will realize the potential of renewable energy. She also added that the Bureau of Land Management is committed to the engagement of an inclusive and equitable process in pursuit of a clean energy economy.

The solar project, which is also known as the Crimson Solar, will create 650 construction jobs. Also, it will give ten permanent jobs and 40 temporary jobs in operations and maintenance for the next 30 years as it is the span of the solar project.

Moreover, the State Director of the BLM California, Karen Mouritsen, stated that they are proud to support the responsible development of renewable energy projects as part of their mission to manage the public lands sustainably. She also added that the Crimson Solar project showcases the agency's commitment to meeting the energy and economic needs of the state of California using the 21st Century technology, RenewablesNow reported.

Additional Supply and Storage

The approval also authorizes Sonoran West to construct a 350-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic facility with a 350-MW energy storage system and the necessary ancillary support facilities to generate and deliver power through the Substation at the Southern California Edison Colorado River, YubaNet reported.

Furthermore, the project will include a battery storage system that will be sited on land designated for renewable energy development by the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. It is an agreement finalized between California and the administration of former President Obama that set aside areas for wind and solar projects.