At the turn of this century, California received only 11 percent of its energy from renewable sources. In 2018, it had grown to 34 percent, with a goal of 60 percent by 2030 and 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2045.
One of the key regions sought by renewable energy developers is the sparsely populated, but ecologically important Mojave and Colorado/Sonoran Desert area in southeastern California – a vast area covering roughly 22.6 million acres.
In addition to the abundant sun, wind, and geothermal resources, the area is home to a variety of unique plant and wildlife species. It also has a rich cultural and tribal heritage and is a recreational area for thousands of visitors each year.
To protect the area and streamline the permitting process, the California Energy Commission, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) that identifies areas in the desert appropriate for the utility-scale development of wind, solar, and geothermal energy projects.
The comprehensive plan also provides for the long-term conservation and management of covered species and preserves the natural resources, recreational areas, and scenic values.
In 2016, BLM signed its Record of Decision approving the DRECP Land Use Plan Amendment, which covers the 10 million acres of BLM-managed lands in the DRECP Plan Area.