The Bureau of Land Management's latest Western Solar Plan aims to restrict 31 million acres of land across 11 states for solar farm development, an “absolutely ridiculous” proposal from the Biden-Harris administration This would increase the burden on taxpayers due to unreliable energy. the Republican lawmaker told FOX News Digital.
Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) said the agency's plan would close off 572,479 acres of public land in Montana alone for solar development, threatening the Treasure State's wildlife, environment and He said there would be “many problems” in people's lives. .
“BLM Secretary” [Deb] “Haaland and director Tracy Stone-Manning live in this fantasy world where they think coal power and natural gas power will no longer be used,” Rosendale said. It has been a favorite for decades because it is reliable, affordable, and readily available. It does not need to be subsidized by American taxpayers. And that's what we need to focus on. ”
Rosendale said the Western Solar project violates the Taylor Grazing Act, which regulates grazing on public lands, and would require intermittent energy transmission hundreds or even thousands of miles in advance. He said he was concerned that this could lead to the creation of You can use it.
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Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) said that if Bureau of Land Management Secretary Deb Haaland and Secretary Tracy Stone-Manning believe the United States will eliminate coal-fired and natural gas power generation, He said he would be living in the world. . (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images, File)
He said solar energy “is not a consistent, reliable and affordable source of energy.”
“We're paying more for the energy produced from these sources, and we're being taxed more heavily to subsidize it to make it work.” he says.
Bureau of Land Management The latest Western Solar Plan identifies potential solar power development in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. We have identified 31 million acres with (California Bureau of Land Management)
BLM announced its latest solar power plan in August, creating 31 million acres of potential solar power development in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Identified. The agency said the updated plan would avoid protected lands, sensitive cultural resources and important wildlife habitat.
A BLM spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the proposed plan “supports the nation's climate and energy goals while ensuring public lands continue to serve many needs.”
“The proposed plan will direct applications for solar power development to areas that are already disturbed, near power lines, or have low environmental sensitivity,” the agency said. “Solar power development in certain sensitive ecosystems, wildlife habitat, or culturally significant sites is excluded.”
The Bureau of Land Management said the updated plan would avoid protected lands, sensitive cultural resources and important wildlife habitat. (U.S. Department of the Interior)
“Every day, BLM balances landscape uses from energy production to grazing, mining, recreation, and protecting wildlife habitat and clean water,” the agency continued.
BLM emphasized that the proposed plan does not allow solar development in areas important to big game or away from endangered species habitat.
Fox News Digital reached out to the National Audubon Society, an environmental group that has provided input to BLM on the potential environmental impacts of potential solar development, and a spokesperson for the organization said, responded in a press release issued in August, shortly after BLM. The latest plan has been announced.
“BLM's revised Western Solar Plan improves on the original draft and strikes a clearer balance between solar energy development and wildlife protection,” said Garry, senior director of climate strategy at the National Audubon Society. George said in a release. “We look forward to further reviewing this document and the greater sage-grouse plan once it is finalized and providing further input to the BLM.”
Rosendale said the potential development of solar panels on federal land would require significant subsidies from taxpayers. (U.S. Department of the Interior)
However, Rosendale said he believes the BLM needs to completely change its plans.
“I think businesses need to evolve to be able to develop ways to produce energy that are more effective, more efficient, and more reliable,” he said.
“We're going to be using coal and natural gas for decades to come,” Rosendale said. “It's a good idea to start looking at alternative means of energy production, but we don't want to impose an obligation on utilities that they have to buy this kind of energy, and an obligation on the land that they can only use it if there's a law in place. Now, the claim that food production on those acres should be at the top of the priority list is not only wrong, it's against the law. ”
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Other lawmakers in Western states have also expressed concerns about BLM's solar development plans.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Steve Daines. Sens. (R-Mont.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) all oppose the latest Western solar project, citing concerns it could disrupt grazing, mineral development and recreation. did.
Other Republicans also expressed concern that potential solar farm development could disrupt grazing, mineral development and recreation. (BLM Southern Nevada District Office)
”[W]“We remain concerned that these lands are already used by many people for their livelihoods through multiple other uses,” the senators wrote in a letter to Stonemanning. “Not only has its use been disrupted, but it has been completely cut off from public view.” As solar power generation becomes more widespread, the amount of land needed will also increase. ”
Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), who also chair the Western Caucus, sent another letter to Stone Manning urging the agency to They requested that the proposed renewal of the solar power generation plan be withdrawn. Grazing and unreliable energy.
“This project risks violating the federal Land Policy and Management Act's multi-use mandate for public lands, threatens valuable pastures, and provides more intermittent access than more affordable and reliable sources.” increases energy,” Newhouse wrote.
Hagemann argued that such a plan would “undermine existing efforts to advance America's energy independence” and undermine the nation's energy grid through “unreliable energy sources.”
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“The Biden-Harris attack on our Western way of life must end quickly this November before it does more damage,” the lawmakers wrote.
