Co-Location Energy Act streamlines renewable projects on leased land

A new bipartisan bill called the "Co-Location Energy Act" aims to boost clean energy in the United States. It was introduced by Senator John Curtis, a Republican, and Senator John Hickenlooper, a Democrat. The bill focuses on using existing federal lands for renewable energy projects like wind and solar. The senators believe this bill is a practical solution to strengthen energy supply without harming existing operations. It looks to speed up the approval process for renewable projects by allowing them to be built on federal lands already leased for oil and gas extraction. Currently, the oil and gas industry holds over 34,000 leases on about 23.7 million acres of public lands. The Co-Location Energy Act hopes to make it easier for renewable developers to operate on these lands with permission from current leaseholders. Despite significant support, there are concerns about whether major oil companies will cooperate. A study by Planet Reimagined found that these lands could produce 2000 gigawatts of clean electricity if used for renewables. The bill instructs the Department of Interior to allow renewable energy projects on existing leases and to assess how these projects can qualify for expedited approval. It has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources for further consideration. With the passage of this bill, there is hope for increased bipartisan support for energy projects in the future, helping to ensure a cleaner energy transition in the U.S.