In a memorandum issued on Aug. 21, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new policy prioritizing land use efficiency when evaluating proposals for power generation projects on National Forest System lands.
The memorandum represents the USDA’s “commitment to strengthening American energy production and reducing reliance on foreign energy sources, like foreign adversary-manufactured solar panels, while protecting our lands for future generations,” according to a press release from the agency.
As part of the memorandum, the U.S. Forest Service will develop new screening guidelines that measure and prioritize the amount of energy produced per acre of land “while ensuring projects are consistent with environmental stewardship, multiple-use principles, and economic benefits for rural communities,” the press release said….
USDA Issues Memorandum Prioritizing American Energy on National Forest Lands
