The proposed plan would promote the use of “designated leasing areas", which would include the previously announced Solar Energy Zones in a handful of Western states.
Present regulations limit the Interior Department's use of the competitive process to situations when multiple developers have applied for leases on the same piece of land.
“This competitive process will encourage access to leasing opportunities for renewable energy projects, create greater certainty for developers and provide a fair market return to American taxpayers for the use of public funds,” says Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.
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