Federal agencies in Washington D.C.and the State of California have been concurrently developing plans to allow development and permitting of utility scale solar energy plants on public lands.

The US Department of the Interior recently announced its roadmap for solar energy development, focused on six southwestern states –Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

Energy Secretary Stephen Chu notes that the new roadmap identifies public lands best suited for solar energy projects, improves the permitting process, and creates incentives to deliver more renewable energy to American homes and businesses.