400 MW Solar Plant Planned For US Desert Region

• BLM is seeking public inputs for the 400 MW Easley Solar Power Plant in California
• An Intersect Power subsidiary IP Easley will construct, own and maintain the project for a minimum of 35 years and maximum 50 years
• The project will be located on public and private land in Riverside County under DRECP program

The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wants public opinion on a 400 MW solar power plant proposed by Intersect Power to be located on government land in California. It is planned to be realized under the government's Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP).

A collaborative effort between various government agencies and the BLM, through DRECP the plan is to use 10.8 million acres of public lands in the desert regions of 7 Californian counties for renewable energy development.

The 400 MW Easley Solar Project in Riverside County is proposed to cover approximately 2,700 acres of BLM-managed public lands and 990 acres of private lands north of Desert Center on I-10. It will also be accompanied by a battery energy storage system (BESS).

An Intersect Power subsidiary IP Easley will construct, operate, maintain and decommission the project. According to the current schedule, the Easley project is planned to come online by late-2025 and remain operational for a minimum of 35 years or a maximum 50 years. Post that, it will be decommissioned, and the land returned to its pre-project conditions.

BLM California State Director Karen Mouritsen said, "We are committed to conducting a thorough science-based review of the proposed Easley Solar project and value public input."

Launched on September 15, 2023, the last date to submit feedback for the project is October 15, 2023. Details are available on BLM's website.  

In June 2023, BLM raised $105.15 million from auctioning 23,675 acres of land in Amargosa Desert in Nevada to support up to 3 GW utility scale solar energy capacity (see Historical US Land Auction For Solar Energy).