BLM’s Determination Processes for Wind Energy Projects Proposed on Public Lands

We completed an inspection of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) wind energy program and the process of granting rights-of-way (ROWs) for two types of projects on public lands: Type II wind testing and Type III wind energy development facilities. We specifically focused on how BLM performs two steps in the process of authorizing these projects: (1) determining the technical and financial capability of an applicant to develop a wind project on public lands, and (2) determining the technical and economic feasibility of proposed projects. 

 

We found that BLM policies for making these determinations are not clear and that BLM staff do not have guidelines to follow nor the necessary expertise for making these determinations.

 

We provided five recommendations to help BLM improve its processes for determining applicant technical and financial capability and project technical and economic feasibility.