Lewis Roca Blog

On December 21, the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) published a Notice in the Federal Register calling for expressions of interest and nominations for utility-scale solar development on parcels of land within seven identified solar energy zones (“SEZ”) on a combined 89,589 acres of public land. The seven SEZs include Antonito Southeast, DeTilla Gulch, and Los Mogotes East in Colorado; Dry Lake Valley North, Gold Point, and Millers in Nevada; and Afton in New Mexico.

Late last month, the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) issued Instruction Memorandum 2021-046 to reinstate both BLM Manual Section (MS-1794) and BLM Handbook (H-1794-1), which restore previously rescinded BLM policies on mitigating operator impacts on public lands managed by the BLM.

On Friday, September 10th, the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) noticed a competitive offer of solar energy development on public lands in Beaver County, UT.

On Tuesday, June 29, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to reverse the Third Circuit and affirm that authorized natural gas pipeline developers have the ability to exercise federal eminent domain over state and municipal lands.

Consumer and industrial demand for gasoline has plummeted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, a geopolitical standoff between Saudi Arabia and Russia has created a worldwide oil glut. As a result, oil prices have dropped below levels necessary to maintain profitable production in many parts of the United States.