Policies Promoting Utility-Scale Solar Development on Public Lands

The high level of interest in solar development of the California desert and the urgent need to determine appropriate siting criteria and land use policies necessitates an understanding of what is driving solar developers to choose this area and which political and economic factors can lead to success or failure of project development. Utility-scale solar projects are eligible for multiple economic incentives from both the state and federal governments. Additionally, state and federal laws and policies have incentivized the use of public lands for renewable energy development.