BLM Auctions Nevada Geothermal Leases Overlapping Solar Projects

The Bureau of Land Management is auctioning 83 geothermal lease parcels totaling 265,691 acres in Nevada. Federal documents indicate that thousands of these acres overlap with several major planned solar developments, including the 1,000-megawatt Sawtooth Energy Center and the Lone Mountain project.

NextEra Energy requested the removal or reconfiguration of three parcels to resolve a conflict over 6,000 acres of its planned site. The Bureau of Land Management denied this request in August, stating that federal lands are managed for multiple uses. The agency noted that if a solar project receives approval first, it maintains the senior right to the land.

Other affected developments include Invenergy's 300-MW Nivloc solar project and Arevia Power's 1,500-MW Gold Dust solar project. The auction aligns with Trump administration policies that prioritize geothermal energy as a constant electricity source while excluding wind and solar from federal permitting acceleration efforts.