Today, Taxpayers for Common Sense and The Wilderness Society released a report to energy leaders on the Hill, in the administration, in the energy industry, and throughout the environmental community. The report, entitled “Fair Market Value for Wind and Solar Development on Public Land” is a review and analysis of the laws and regulations governing the collection and use of revenues from commercial energy development on federal lands and is a guide for policy-makers to use in developing appropriate policies for wind and solar energy projects.

The purpose of this review is to show how other, existing energy programs attempt to determine fair market value for public lands development, how these revenues are used, and how elements of these programs might be applied to the future development of wind and solar energy resources. Based on our findings, we recommend that policymakers enact clarifying legislation, designate leasing as the appropriate legal framework, require competitive bidding for areas where a competitive interest exists, charge royalties linked to market conditions, allow for limited royalty phase-in or relief to further national policy goals, and reinvest revenues in improved system design and conservation activities for long-term sustainability. 

For more information, please contact Autumn Hanna at (202) 546-8500 x112 or autumn [at] taxpayer.net.