BLM sets aside more than 4,000 acres south of Redmond during review of proposed solar project

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Bureau of Land Management announced Wednesday it is temporarily setting aside about 4,037 acres of public lands associated with the proposed Expedition Solar Project south of Redmond.

This means that the lands, located about seven miles south of Redmond off Morrill Road, will be withdrawn from the public land laws for two years, including location under the Mining Law, subject to valid existing rights, while the BLM reviews the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project.

As of September, the Biden-Harris administration had approved 41 renewable energy projects on public lands (10 solar, 13 geothermal, and 18 gen-ties) and exceeded the goal to permit 25 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2025.

In total, the BLM has permitted clean energy projects on public lands with a total capacity of approximately 29 gigawatts of power – enough to power more than 12 million homes.  

The withdrawal notice will publish in Thursday's Federal Register.

For more information, please contact Faith Simitz, BLM Prineville District Realty Specialist, at (541) 416-6783 or fsimitz@blm.gov.