China has increased the generation of clean energy in 2023 — 60% of the total volume in the world. However, the United States is emerging as a leader in the field of renewable sources.
The administration of US President Joe Biden has taken a significant step in the field of clean energy, completing a plan to expand the development of solar energy on federal lands in 11 western states. Solar power plants will occupy 12.5 million hectares, interestingengineering.com writes.
With the updated Western Solar Plan (“Western Solar Plan”, — ed.), the administration is laying the groundwork for a significant increase in solar power capacity, which is critical to achieving the goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035. The Western Solar Plan, developed by the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM), marks a significant development in solar energy. Originally, the plan covered six states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Five more states are included in the new edition: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. This would increase the total area available for potential solar development to 12.5 million hectares, up from the 8.9 million hectares proposed earlier this year.
The plan targets land with high solar potential that is close to to power lines, which minimizes the impact on protected areas, sensitive cultural and wildlife habitats.
The administration of US President Joe Biden has already made significant progress in permitting clean energy projects on public lands. Earlier in 2024, the BLM exceeded its goal of permitting more than 25 GW of clean energy projects, reaching 29 GW — enough to supply more than 12 million homes with electricity.
The administration's push for faster project approvals goes beyond solar. The White House is also focused on speeding up the permitting process for a wide range of infrastructure projects, including power lines and wind farms. It's part of a broader effort to decarbonize the U.S. energy system by 2035, a key component of fighting climate change.
In addition to expanding solar energy on federal lands, the administration is taking action to reduce emissions in other areas. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently conditionally approved emission reduction credits for companies in Maricopa County, Arizona. The credits will help local businesses switch to cleaner fleets and offset emissions from planned semiconductor plants in the region. The Biden administration's focus on clean energy and environmental permits also has economic benefits. Maricopa County, home to Arizona's capital, Phoenix, has seen a surge in investment in semiconductor manufacturing, thanks in part to federal incentives.
Companies such as Intel and Taiwan's TSMC have announced major investments in the region and new emissions credits , approved by the EPA, will support the development of these facilities while helping the district meet federal air quality standards.