Public land, owned and managed by the government, comprises a significant portion of the United States. In fact, the federal government is the largest landowner in the country. How these vast public lands, spanning millions of acres, are used has profound implications for a wide range of stakeholders. From environmental preservation and social considerations to economic outcomes and political dynamics, the management of public lands directly impacts communities and ecosystems alike. Proper stewardship is essential to ensure these lands are not only preserved but leveraged responsibly to support a sustainable, clean energy future for everyone. This resource explores how government-owned land can be used to advance renewable energy goals.
LandGate provides a cutting-edge platform designed to help public landowners unlock the full potential of their properties for energy production. By identifying the best sites for renewable energy projects within their portfolios and connecting them with a vast network of energy developers, LandGate enables government property owners to turn underutilized land and rooftops into valuable clean energy assets. Every step of the transformation process is guided with expertise, ensuring a seamless path to sustainable energy solutions.
Harnessing Public Land to Achieve Renewable Energy Goals
Public landowners encompass a wide range of entities, from federal and state governments to regional airports, universities, cities, and counties. Despite their varying types, all public landowners share a common purpose: achieving mission-driven objectives, with one of the most prominent goals being to foster clean energy development. Unlike private landowners, whose primary focus is often generating profit or securing a return on investment, public landowners carry the added responsibility of utilizing their land assets to fulfill broader goals that benefit the communities they serve.
Several mission-driven goals are commonly shared among public landowners and can be advanced through the strategic use of public properties. Examples of these goals include:
Reducing ownership and maintenance costs
Maximizing both existing and new revenue opportunities
Promoting economic growth and attracting investments
Enhancing the local electrical grid with new sources of carbon-free energy
Supporting federal and local renewable portfolio standards
Strengthening government policies related to renewable energy development
By aligning land use with these objectives, public landowners can balance financial sustainability with their commitment to community well-being and environmental stewardship.
Benefits of Utilizing Public Land for Renewable Energy
Utilizing government-owned land for renewable energy projects offers numerous advantages. By leasing this land for clean energy development, governments can generate significant revenue, stimulate local economic growth, and support the production of sustainable, clean energy.
One of the primary benefits of utilizing public land for renewable energy development is the potential to generate significant revenue through lease payments. By leasing agency-owned properties to developers for clean energy projects, public agencies can establish a consistent stream of income that supports other public services and infrastructure investments. For example, typical solar lease payments range from $700-2,000 per acre per year with leases ranging from 25 to 40 years.
Additionally, clean energy projects help drive economic growth in local communities. The construction and operation of renewable energy facilities create jobs across a range of sectors, from manufacturing to maintenance, invigorating the local economy while supporting long-term employment opportunities. Furthermore, renewable energy development can also attract investments and businesses to the area, stimulating growth and prosperity.
Leasing public land for renewable energy projects also fosters the production of clean, sustainable energy. Solar farms, wind turbines, and other renewable energy installations on public lands contribute to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, critical to combating climate change. This not only aligns with broader environmental goals but also enhances the energy security of surrounding communities by diversifying energy sources. By supporting renewable energy projects, public landowners can play a vital role in transitioning to a greener, more sustainable energy future.
Government Policies Supporting Renewable Energy Development on Public Lands
Government policies play a crucial role in fostering renewable energy development on public lands. These policies often focus on incentivizing renewable energy projects through tax credits, subsidies, and streamlined permitting processes. For instance, programs like the Renewable Energy on Public Lands Act aim to accelerate the development of solar, wind, and geothermal projects while ensuring proper land-use planning and environmental safeguards.
Additionally, renewable portfolio standards (RPS) encourage the adoption of green energy by requiring utilities to source a specified percentage of their power from renewable resources. As of December 2023, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency reports that 28 states and the District of Columbia have implemented Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), while 7 states have adopted renewable energy goals. Additionally, 11 states have established Clean Energy Standards (CES) or related objectives. Notably, 17 states and the District of Columbia have set ambitious targets to achieve 100% renewable or clean electricity by 2050 or sooner.
The Biden-Harris administration has set an ambitious goal: achieving 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 and a net-zero carbon economy by 2050. Utilizing public lands will play a crucial role in meeting these targets, given the vast expanse of public land available in the United States. According to Peter Daniels, “...for the United States to reach the widely recommended goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, it will have to site renewable energy projects on roughly 145 million acres.” Public lands, therefore, are a key resource in the nation’s transition toward a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has established clear processes to identify potential sites for renewable energy development. One process is tailored specifically for renewable energy projects, while the other facilitates collaboration with third-party developers interested in such initiatives. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the largest public landowner of federal lands in the United States. BLM is setting the tone for other public landowners to contribute land to expand the national renewable energy portfolio through the use of environmentally sound renewable energy programs.
Specifically, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has exceeded its goal of approving 25 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy projects on public lands. As of November 2024, the BLM has authorized 70 geothermal, 63 solar, 41 wind, and 42 renewable energy gen-tie projects—transmission lines that traverse public lands to connect private renewable energy developments to the grid. Together, these projects boast a total capacity of approximately 30 GW, enough to power more than 12 million homes.
Identifying Public Land to Advance Renewable Energy Goals
Public institutions are the largest landowners in the United States, making it essential to utilize public land to expand the nation’s renewable energy portfolio. Although policies and regulations governing the use of public land for renewable energy projects vary widely across the country, leveraging public lands for clean energy development has become common and will continue to expand. Many agencies across the country have already leased their properties for clean energy projects, including local and state governments, schools, universities, military installations, and public utilities.
LandGate offers a powerful platform for public landowners seeking to optimize their property for energy production. From pinpointing the ideal sites within portfolios for renewable energy projects to connecting with a robust network of energy developers, LandGate empowers government property owners to transform their underutilized land and rooftops into clean energy assets, guiding them through every step of the process.
The success of LandGate's platform and marketplace is exemplified by its impact on the State of New Mexico. Since Q1 2024, New Mexico has listed seven properties on LandGate, with four successfully closed deals. These transactions are paving the way for the development of three solar farms and one wind farm on state-owned land. This progress not only advances New Mexico’s commitment to a greener, more sustainable future, but also generates revenue and creates valuable local jobs. If your agency is interested in evaluating the clean energy potential of its properties and would like to explore LandGate's free services for government agencies further, schedule a free consultation call with our team today or learn more here:
