A smart approach to renewable energy development on our public lands

For over four decades, I’ve committed myself to serving and protecting my community and my country. I was in the U.S. Army for 33 years serving alongside our men and women in uniform committed to securing our freedoms and protecting our nation. Now, I am seeking to protect the same lands I fought for by championing smart energy and environmental policies that will enhance our national security and address climate change. By ramping up wind and solar energy production on our public lands, we will be able to do just that.

Investing in new energy sources decreases our dependence on fossil fuels and lessens our impact on the environment. Our nation’s public lands have tremendous potential for renewable energy development, but we need to make sure these resources are developed responsibly without compromising the special places we treasure as Americans, and seek out as veterans.

{mosads}Until relatively recently, there were no solar projects on public lands. But the landscape has changed as the demand for renewable energy has increased. That is why the Obama Administration is working on new rules to govern renewable energy development on public lands that will ensure that development is done responsibly in appropriate places and delivers a fair return to taxpayers. The new guidelines, collectively called the “Wind and Solar Leasing Rule,” are essential to the long-term stewardship of our public lands and balancing energy development with other uses like outdoor recreation.

The rule will accomplish these goals with thoughtful guidelines that establish stability and consistency across the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) field offices that are tasked with reviewing and approving renewable energy projects on public lands. The leasing process seeks to ensure a fair return to taxpayers on the use of public land by private companies and makes sure energy development is done well from the beginning. It’s also important to note that the process for developing the rule has not occurred in a vacuum: in the years since the rule was originally proposed, BLM has engaged in an ongoing public dialogue with a diverse array of stakeholders – including industry, the outdoor recreation community, veterans, small business owners, and many others – whose perspectives will help shape the final product.

Unfortunately, some in the solar and wind industry are opposing this common sense rule out of fear that it will delay or add costs to energy development on public lands. While I believe strongly that we must transition to renewable energy as quickly as we can, and am heartened by the boom in these industries which has helped us forge a path towards a clean energy economy, I also believe that development must not occur at the expense of taxpayers or our land and water. We must not squander our chance, at the birth of this new frontier in American energy, to take a “smart from the start” approach by establishing a sound process to guide future development.

Veterans have sacrificed a lot to protect our nation’s breathtaking open spaces and shared resources; we must ensure that they remain safe and continue to benefit each and every one of us. 21st century energy deserves a 21st century approach. We don’t go into conflict today with muskets; as the times have evolved, so has our understanding of innovative conservation measures that strike the balance needed for preservation and progress. And so we urge the BLM and the Obama Administration to continue to prioritize the development of renewable resources to meet our climate goals while protecting public lands. We can — and must — do both, and this rule provides a road map to get us there.

Paul D. Eaton is a retired Major General in the US Army and Managing Director of the Vet Voice Foundation

The views expressed by authors are their own and not the views of The Hill.