LAS CRUCES, NM – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) held a live competitive auction for a 937.5-acre parcel for lease in the Afton Solar Energy Zone in Doña Ana County. Boulevard Associates, LLC was the successful bidder with a final bid of $1,900,000.
Their next step will be to submit a Plan of Development within two years of lease issuance. Boulevard Associates, LLC may not construct any facilities on the right-of-way until the BLM issues a notice to proceed or other written form of approval to begin surface disturbing activities.
BLM manages vast stretches of public lands with the potential to make significant contributions to the nation's renewable energy portfolio and provides sites for environmentally sound renewable energy projects.
The BLM has approved 42 renewable energy projects on public lands (10 solar, 14 geothermal, and 18 gen-ties) and exceeded the goal to permit 25 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2025. The BLM has permitted clean energy projects on public lands with a total capacity of more than 32 gigawatts of power – enough to power more than 15 million homes. This year BLM also issued a final Renewable Energy Rule that will lower consumer energy costs and the cost of developing solar and wind projects, improve project application processes, create jobs, and incentivize developers to continue responsibly developing solar and wind projects on public lands.
For more information about the auction, please contact BLM Afton Solar Project Manager Paula Montez at 575-525-4387 or
