Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2025
The Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2025 would create a national framework to promote wind and solar energy on federal lands. It defines key terms (such as covered land and renewable energy projects), sets rules for a limited grandfathering of certain pre-2016 projects, and establishes a new structure to dispose of revenues from wind/solar projects. Starting in 2026, revenues from rights-of-way, permits, leases, or other authorizations would be shared with states and counties hosting the projects, support a programmatic effort to expedite permits, and fund environmental and public-access conservation activities through a dedicated Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund. The bill aims to accelerate renewable energy development on public lands while directing a portion of the proceeds toward habitat restoration, wildlife corridors, wetlands, and recreational access, with an emphasis on supplementing—not replacing— annual appropriations.
Key Points
- 1Creates a framework to promote wind and solar development on federal lands (covered land), with clear definitions of covered land, federal land, renewable energy projects, and the Secretary’s role in implementation.
- 2Limited grandfathering provision: allows certain pre-2016 right-of-way holders to continue under the rents/fees in effect before the 2016 BLM rule on competitive solar and wind leasing, unless otherwise agreed with the project owner.
- 3Revenue disposition starting January 1, 2026: wind/solar project revenues (bonus bids, rentals, fees, etc.) are allocated 25% to each of four buckets—state where the revenue is derived; counties within that state (distributed by land share); a Treasury-administered program to expedite permitting; and the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund.
- 4Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund: administered by the Secretary (with input from the Secretary of Agriculture), used to restore habitat, wildlife corridors, and wetlands, and to improve public recreational access on affected Federal lands through partnerships; funds earn interest and may be spent per the statute; annual reports to Congress; intended to supplement, not replace, annual appropriations.
- 5Implementation and compliance: payments to states and counties align with existing Mineral Leasing Act authorities; exceptions apply to certain funds; the act envisions coordination with federal, state, local, and Tribal entities and prioritizes streamlining permit processing in energy-host jurisdictions.