Biden-Harris Administration Invests Nearly $20 Million to Improve Siting of Renewable Energy and Co-Locate Solar with Cattle Grazing

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of six projects totaling $11.6 million funded by the Inflation Reduction Act in the second round of a program that will improve planning, siting, and permitting processes for large-scale renewable energy facilities. Six state-based collaborative teams will develop statewide and Tribal initiatives to support communities in evaluating and planning for large-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects. DOE also launched an $8.2 million prize to advance agrivoltaics, specifically the co-location of solar energy production and cattle grazing. By supporting more predictable, community-oriented, and science-based processes, these investments will help to accelerate renewable energy deployment and improve outcomes for American communities and developers.   

"Large-scale renewable energy projects are strengthening the grid, fueling local economies, creating good paying jobs, and lowering household energy costs across America," said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE. "These new initiatives highlight the breadth of DOE's work to support communities and developers working on local energy transitions, so that no one is left behind on our national journey to a secure and equitable clean energy future for all Americans."

A prize to develop and deploy cattle agrivoltaics

About one-third of the land in the United States is for grazing cattle. It also happens to be flat and open—only a small fraction of this would be needed for solar deployment to achieve a decarbonized grid. Combining solar energy installations with cattle grazing operations could help preserve agricultural land and traditions; benefit cattle health; generate additional income for ranchers, farmers, and landowners; and ease barriers to solar energy deployment, all while helping decarbonize the energy grid. However, there are few examples of this kind of deployment in the United States.

The $8.2 million Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize will bring together multiple stakeholder groups to develop and deploy solar cattle grazing by building pilot sites and sharing information on best practices, costs, and energy and agricultural outcomes. Applications for Phase 1 of the prize are now open and due on Mar. 6, 2025.

Support to states and Tribes to improve planning, siting, and permitting

Large-scale clean energy projects, especially wind, solar, and energy storage, have a pivotal role in decarbonizing the grid quickly and cost-effectively to achieve the country’s climate goals; however, most are likely to be built on private lands, where state and local authorities make permitting decisions. The Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program funds state-based and Tribal collaboratives to evaluate stakeholder needs and develop state-specific educational materials and technical assistance programs to improve permitting processes for communities and industry. 

The collaboratives bring together stakeholders and technical experts in the energy planning process, including state and local agencies, universities, developers, farmers, Tribes, community organizations, and other entities. The selected round two projects are based in:

• Colorado: Led by the Colorado Energy Office (Award amount: $1.96 million)
• Georgia: Led by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government (Award amount: $1.95 million)
• Idaho: Led by Boise State University (Award amount: $1.95 million)
• Oklahoma: Led by Oklahoma State University (Award amount: $1.8 million)
• Pennsylvania: Led by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (Award amount: $1.96 million)
• Washington: Led by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (Award amount: $1.96 million)

These new state-based collaboratives expand the regional diversity of the R-STEP program to cover 13 states, joining six previously selected collaboratives. The collaboratives receive tailored technical assistance and peer-learning opportunities, and the R-STEP program enables them to share learnings and best practices with other states and stakeholders. Learn more about the selected state-based collaboratives. 

Learn more about large-scale renewable energy siting, including state-by-state siting policies and permitting authorities. Information is also available to learn more about solar and agriculture co-location.

The R-STEP program is administered by ENERGYWERX. This funding mechanism is made possible through the innovative Partnership Intermediary Agreement set up by the DOE Office of Technology Transitions.

Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicant will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time. DOE award amounts are subject to change pending negotiations.