This section describes potential impacts to renewable energy development from implementing the alternatives. The BLM approves renewable energy facilities for wind, solar, and biomass through ROW authorizations. Therefore, the descriptions of impacts to ROWs and corridors in this chapter (including restrictions and avoidance/mitigation and exclusion areas) apply to renewable energy development. This section focuses on management specific to renewable energy development in the alternatives that would increase, limit, or prohibit renewable energy development (in addition to that discussed in Section 4.6.3 Rights-of-Way and Corridors). Wind energy is the only type of anticipated renewable energy development in the Planning Area. Therefore, this section primarily describes impacts to wind-energy development. Map 46 shows wind-energy development potential in the Planning Area based on wind power class ratings. Impacts to geothermal resources are discussed in Section 4.2.4 Leasable Minerals - Geothermal.

Adverse impacts to renewable energy include management that limits or prohibits the development of renewable energy resources. Beneficial impacts to renewable energy result from management actions and resource uses that increase the potential for renewable energy development. Conversely, adverse impacts to renewable energy development result from actions or uses that decrease such development potential.

Direct impacts to renewable energy include management actions that designate renewable or ROW energy avoidance/mitigation and exclusion areas. Other examples of direct impacts include resource uses that conflict with or prohibit the development of renewable energy, such as development of a surface mine in an area with a high wind-power-class rating. Indirect impacts to renewable energy include management actions that result in subsequent restrictions, such as management for resource values that require mitigation, relocation, or denial of authorizations for renewable energy. Impacts to renewable energy would be long-term.