Permitting Processes

Due to the interconnected nature of power generation infrastructure and overlapping jurisdictions of federal and state agencies, there are multiple agencies and processes through which solar developers must navigate to receive permits necessary to build their facilities. Some of the processes apply to specific stages of solar development, such as linking into the transmission grid or approving power purchase agreements between utilities and developers, while other processes overlap when multiple permits are needed to develop a facility on federal land within the State of California. The primary permitting processes are conducted by the BLM and the CEC. Other federal and state agencies also play a role in the siting of solar facilities on BLM land in the CDCA.