Public Land Renewal Energy Development Act of 2013 - Summer

Advisor: Kathleen Callahan

The Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2013 (S.279) promotes a competitive leasing program for renewable energy projects on public lands held by the Bureau of Land Management, National Forest Service, and the military. It proposes to assess suitable lands for renewable energy development and establish two wind and two solar energy pilot programs with the goal of reaching a permanent leasing program within two years. The intent of this bill is to generate more renewable energy sources and reduce fossil fuel consumption. By promoting this development, the Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act represents an indirect solution to mitigate the global impacts of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from fossil fuels combustion and the local impacts of fossil fuel extraction.  Mining fossil fuels has significant local environmental impacts including habitat destruction, wildlife disruption, erosion, loss of biodiversity, water waste, and water contamination. Additionally, burning fossil fuels significantly contribute to climate change, causing sea levels to rise, oceans to warm, and weather patterns to change. These impacts will affect humans and ecosystems all over the world.  While the bill presents a potential solution to these issues, it presents issues that must be addressed, such as the cost of renewable energy production, the efficiency of transmission and storage of power, . If passed, the bill will be successful if it increases the amount of responsible renewable energy production on public lands thus reducing the local impacts of fossil fuels extraction and the global impacts of fossil fuels combustion. 

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.