The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a study showing that federal lands in the continental United States could technically more than 7,700 GW of renewable energy capacity. 5l1h5d

This study, conducted in coordination with the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Defense, concludes that in central scenarios prioritizing the fulfillment of the growing energy demand in the United States while balancing other needs such as the protection of natural resources, between 51 and 84 GW of renewable energy could be implemented on federal lands by 2035. This would require only about half of one percent of the total surface area of federal lands in the contiguous U.S.

Such a level of deployment by 2035, which could involve the authorization of these projects around 2030, would be sufficient to provide up to approximately 10% of the reliable renewable energy needed to achieve net-zero emissions in the power sector.

The Department of the Interior has already authorized more than 30 GW of clean energy projects on federal lands, suring its 25 GW target set by Congress well ahead of the 2025 deadline, enough clean energy to power more than 15 million homes across the country.

Domestic energy demand is expected to rise, especially to new housing and growing U.S. industries such as advanced manufacturing and data centers. This new analysis highlights significant opportunities to leverage recent progress in deploying renewable energy resources on federal lands to provide a meaningful source of additional energy capacity in the coming years.

Study Findings 5da1c

In total, there is technical potential for 5,750 GW of large-scale photovoltaic (solar) energy, 875 GW of onshore wind energy, 130 GW of hydrothermal energy, and 975 GW of enhanced geothermal generation on federal lands.

Even with stricter location restrictions, such as land use for conservation, livestock grazing, recreation, military use, and more, the technical potential on federal lands remains at 1,750 GW for utility-scale solar energy and 70 GW for onshore wind energy.

The deployment of geothermal capacity is closely tied to the availability and future cost reductions of enhanced geothermal energy. The success of enhanced geothermal energy would translate into the deployment of up to 10 GW on federal lands by 2035 and 36 GW by 2050. Without enhanced geothermal technologies, fewer than 5 GW would be deployed.

Currently, only 4% (8.9 GW) of the renewable energy generation operating in the continental United States is located on federal lands. Scenarios suggest that up to 12.5% of the total renewable energy capacity by 2035 could be deployed on federal lands. The recent prioritization by the Department of the Interior of permits for clean energy could help facilitate this greater deployment. In comparison, 12% of oil production and 11% of natural gas production occur on federal lands.

Federal lands meet many public needs, and any decision regarding their use involves trade-offs. Collaboration is key to helping agencies navigate competing interests while responsibly integrating renewable energy development. Future analyses can evaluate the viability of specific areas or sites and should be updated as land managers' priorities evolve.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm noted, "The Department of Energy is a data-driven agency, and the data shows that the country's growing energy demand can be met with cleaner, cheaper, and more resilient energy."

Meanwhile, Nada Wolff Culver, Deputy Director for Policy and Programs at the Bureau of Land Management within the Department of the Interior, expressed her enthusiasm for being partners in this analysis and contributing to the growth of a sustainable clean energy economy, "while protecting natural and cultural resources on our public lands. By working together, we can ensure the responsible development of clean energy on our lands, which will help create well-paying jobs, lower energy costs for consumers, and our goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035."