The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued final approval for construction of the Arica and Victory Pass solar projects near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County, a significant milestone in the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to modernize America’s power infrastructure in the West and permit at least 25 gigawatts of solar, wind and geothermal production on public lands by 2025.
The issue authorizes Clearway Energy Group to begin full construction of the 265-megawatt Arica Solar Project and 200-megawatt Victory Pass Solar Project. The BLM anticipates construction will begin this month.
The two renewable energy projects will result in a combined infrastructure investment of about $689 million, generate $5.9 million in annual operational economic benefit, provide power to approximately 132,000 homes, and add up to 465 megawatts of clean-energy-generating capacity and 400 megawatts of battery storage. Additionally, the projects will support up to 1,000 c