Parks Group Welcomes Western Solar Plan, Calls for Responsible Development to Protect National Parks and Surrounding Landscapes

WASHINGTON – Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released an updated proposal for the Western Solar Plan that will guide the future of large-scale solar energy projects on public lands across the Western U.S., including areas near national parks.

The BLM’s Western Solar Plan, or the Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), will help determine the ‘what,’ ‘how,’ and the ‘where’ behind new large-scale energy projects and takes steps to balance our energy needs with landscape and habitat conservation priorities.

The impacts of the plan extend beyond lands managed by BLM, affecting the 80 national park units that are directly adjacent, alongside countless communities.

Today’s release will be followed by a 30-day protest period and 60-day governor’s consistency review, after which the BLM will issue the Record of Decision for the Western Solar Plan.

Statement from Matt Kirby, Senior Energy and Landscape Conservation Director at the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA):

“We see the dramatic impact of climate change on our national parks every day. That’s why we need a transition to renewable energy that makes sure solar development is sited quickly and where it makes the most sense, minimizing harm to national parks and the communities they support.

“We applaud the BLM for expanding the Western Solar Plan to cover the entire western U.S. and for working to include our public lands in the climate solution. By prioritizing responsible solar development, we have a real chance to take climate action and protect our natural heritage, securing a sustainable future for both our parks and the planet.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the BLM to guide the implementation of this plan, ensuring that development is appropriately sited to avoid industrializing landscapes vital to wildlife, biodiversity, and the national park experience.

“As we move forward, NPCA calls on the BLM to collaborate closely with the National Park Service and nearby communities every step of the way to ensure that key landscapes are excluded from development and that projects are appropriately sited.

“NPCA is committed to protecting our park system, inside and out, so healthy landscapes and wildlife can thrive in the face of climate change. We will continue to work with communities, decision-makers, federal agencies, and the administration to improve renewable energy policy and balance energy development with conservation priorities.”

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.