Agency Milestone Date of 06/05/2023 for Scoping (Agency Action) has passed by 1 business days
Description:
Bonanza Solar, LLC submitted a right-of-way application for the Bonanza Solar Project to the Bureau of Land Management on December 4, 2020. The application indicated that a plan of development, required for right-of-way applications, would be submitted within 60 days of the application filing. A preliminary plan of development for the Bonanza Solar Project was submitted on March 5, 2021 and an updated version was provided on August 22, 2022.
On April 26, 2023 the BLM determined that it is appropriate to continue processing the right-of-way application, and it will be processed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and all other relevant laws, regulations, and policies.
Milestones:
Public scoping is the first formal public participation opportunity for the Bonanza Solar Project. The 45-day public scoping period was initiated when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) publishes a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register on June 5, 2023. During the scoping period, the BLM will host in-person and virtual workshops. The purpose of scoping is to provide the public with early information on the Applicants' Proposed Action as described in their Preliminary Plan of Development, identify preliminary issues, describe an agency preliminary purpose and need, initial range of alternatives, planning criteria, and information from baseline studies that may have been completed prior to scoping. The scoping period ends on July 20, 2023. After the scoping period, the BLM will publish as scoping report that categorizes the comments that were received.
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
01/07/2026
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Renewable Energy Production
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies
Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Description:
Bonanza Solar, LLC proposes to construct, operate, and decommission a 300 MW solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system electrical generation plant and associated facilities on approximately half of the 5,133 acre "application area". The project proposes to include:
- A main access road;
- A secondary access for emergency purposes;
- A 5.5 mile 230 kV gen-tie;
- Power blocks of electrical generating capacity;
- Power collection and power conversion systems;
- Battery energy storage system;
- An on-site electrical substation;
- An on-site operations and maintenance building;
- Temporary construction laydown areas within the project fence line;
- A roadway system consisting of internal and perimeter roadways within the project fence line;
- Microwave/communication tower;
- Site security, fencing, and lighting; and
- Meteorological stations.
The proposed project site is entirely on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Southern Nevada District. The proposed project would be on Solar Variance lands as identified in the 2012 Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States (Solar PEIS).