The federal government will cut the price it charges for leases on public land to renewable energy companies to encourage solar and wind companies to develop projects on federal land, Reuters reports.
The price cut, announced by the Department of Interior, comes as the federal government has a goal of producing 25 gigawatts of renewable energy produced on federal grounds by 2025; currently, energy generation stands around 2.9 gigawatts.
The Interior Department will cut prices by 50% for existing leaseholders and future projects. It also announced that it was increasing the number of staff positions reviewing applications and opening field offices to coordinate local efforts in Washington, Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah.