The US Department of the Interior has signed a memorandum of understanding with California to help develop renewable energy projects on federal and state lands, as well as offshore.
The MoU establishes objectives for onshore and offshore projects, including prioritising the processing of applications and making more efficient use of existing transmission systems.
Offshore projects in federal waters identified as “wind energy areas” would be prioritized by an intergovernmental renewable energy task force established by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and California officials.
“The task force will expedite offshore renewable energy by advancing collaborative planning, conservation through data sharing, development and utilization of common data platforms and tools and proactive stakeholder engagement,” the Department of Interior said.
The Department also approved two transmission lines that will distribute up to 4.5GW of renewable power.
The 416-mile Energy Gateway South transmission project will carry up to 1.5GW in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming.
The 728-mile TransWest Express line will deliver up to 3GW from south-central Wyoming to southern Nevada.
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel (pictured) said: “Together, these initiatives will generate thousands of construction and operations jobs, cut carbon emissions by millions of tons, and help Western states meet their renewable energy goals.”
Image: Desert Sunlight Solar
