PRESS RELEASE: Win-Win-Win Climate and Energy Solution for Wind and Solar on Oil and Gas Land

NEWS RELEASE

June 14, 2023 
Contact: Ben Dahan ben@planetreimagined.com 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - On June 14, 2023, social impact nonprofit Planet Reimagined published a report, “Common Grounds for a Clean Energy Future: A Case for Co-Locating Wind and Solar Power on Federal Oil and Gas Land,” which recommends a sensible solution to speed up the renewable energy transition by encouraging land-sharing between existing fossil fuel lease lands and clean energy projects. After nearly a year of research by Executive Director Adam Met (also a musician who is the “A’ in 8X platinum band AJR) and his team, in consultation with bipartisan policymakers and leading climate and energy groups, this report shares Planet Reimagined’s findings and recommendations in order to advance policy change to achieve America’s climate commitments and energy security.

The United States is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050—a goal that will require both an urgent shift away from fossil fuels and the rapid expansion of renewable energy generating capacity. This transition from oil and gas wells and coal mines to wind farms and solar panel arrays poses significant challenges: to the federal government that needs to ensure the nation’s energy security; to fossil fuel companies that need to remake themselves as renewable energy suppliers; and to the communities and families whose livelihood currently depend on oil, gas, and coal production.

“Common Grounds” argues that the United States is currently overlooking one important and as yet unused resource in this shift to renewables—the roughly 23 million acres of federal land - about the size of the state of Indiana - that is currently leased for oil and gas production and exploration. The report proposes policy steps to incentivize energy land-sharing—the co-location of renewable energy facilities on land already leased for oil and gas production and exploration. These recommendations have three goals: (1) encourage energy land-sharing on public lands; (2) revitalize energy communities through reinvestment; and (3) reduce energy-related emissions. This multi-tiered approach would result in a range of benefits to existing lease holders, many of whom are small “mom-and-pop” operators, as well as to surrounding communities, while accelerating America’s broader transition to a clean energy future.      

“We still have a lot of work to do to reach our climate goals, with some important choices ahead,” says Adam Met. “This approach finds common ground between environmentalists and energy communities, traditional and renewable energy companies, and across both sides of the aisle. It is a win-win-win proposal that builds on the progress made in the past two years, and is a game-changer for how we think about achieving a faster, cleaner, greener and more just energy transition.”

"I have worked with Planet Reimagined for a long time and have seen their advocacy for the future of our planet firsthand. This new policy report is innovative and proposes promising steps the Bureau of Land Management can take to move towards a clean energy future by co-locating renewable energy on lands already leased for oil and gas production." - Representative Mike Levin, U.S. Representative, California’s 49th District 

“We need a breathtaking amount of new wind and solar generation to meet our climate goals. Finding places to put all of it is a major challenge. Co-locating with oil and gas land has real potential and could address several environmental and economic problems.” - Michael B. Gerrard, Director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School

Planet Reimagined is a start-up nonprofit on a mission to fight the climate crisis and deliver fair solutions for people and the planet. Through our groundbreaking fellowships, we train the climate leaders of the future, with customized programs that teach students and professionals from around the world how to combine research and advocacy for measurable impact. By harnessing the power of media and entertainment, we reach over 100 million people a year, turning research-driven THOUGHT into collective ACTION. For more information, visit www.planetreimagined.com.

For media inquiries or more information, please contact Ben Dahan at ben@planetreimagined.com.