Current Phoenix Weather:
advertisement
24 March 2025
The Bureau of Land Management has announced a $2.4 million investment from the Investing in America agenda. This initiative will support a cultural landscape study and predictive model for public lands in California and Arizona. The study aims to assess the impact of renewable energy development on Tribal ancestral lands as well as other significant landscapes in the Colorado River Basin, helping to improve the responsible siting and processing of renewable energy right-of-way applications.
advertisement
As the world shifts toward cleaner, more sustainable energy sources, the United States has emerged at the forefront of renewable energy projects. Under the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, the BLM has spearheaded efforts to approve renewable energy projects across public lands. The BLM has made significant strides, surpassing the 25-gigawatt clean energy target for 2025, with solar, geothermal, and wind energy projects now providing power to millions of homes nationwide. But as solar farms rise on the horizon and wind turbines turn in the breeze, questions about the impact on the environment and communities linger.
In California and Arizona, many renewable energy projects sit on or near Tribal ancestral lands—lands sacred to Indigenous people who have lived there for millennia. The impact of these projects is not merely physical but cultural, as these lands hold deep spiritual significance for the Tribes that call them home.
To address these concerns, the BLM announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, with an investment of $2.4 million, to create a comprehensive cultural landscape study and predictive model for renewable energy development in the region. The goal? To better understand the cultural and environmental impacts of energy development on Tribal lands and other significant landscapes, guiding the responsible placement of energy projects.
“It is important to understand the cultural values of the lands in our care, so we can guide clean energy projects to appropriate places,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. ”The BLM looks forward to working with Tribal Nations and other partners as we conduct this assessment that will help us ensure that clean energy projects are developed responsibly.”
The study will examine the Colorado River Basin, a region of profound importance stretching across both states and encompassing vast areas of public land. The results will help ensure that future clean energy projects are carefully sited, balancing environmental sustainability and respect for Indigenous heritage.
advertisement
At the heart of the study is the integration of Indigenous Knowledge. The BLM recognizes that Indigenous communities have been stewards of the land for generations, and their cultural insights are invaluable in understanding the true impact of land use changes. The study will incorporate an extensive inventory of archaeological, ethnographic, and ethnobotanical data—much of which comes from Tribal communities. In addition, visual and viewshed studies will provide a way to analyze how new developments could affect the sacred landscapes viewed by Tribal nations.
The data collected will not only help guide future development. They will also allow for a deeper understanding of the land’s cultural significance, offering a powerful tool for negotiation and advocacy for Tribal nations as they work with developers.
As part of the larger Investing in America agenda, BLM has made significant progress toward transitioning the country to a 100-percent clean electricity grid by 2035. Additionally Renewable energy projects on public lands now provide enough power to serve over 12 million homes, making a crucial contribution to the nation’s energy future.
The partnership with Argonne National Laboratory—already successful in providing cultural landscape assessments in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah—brings a wealth of expertise in environmental science, technology, and data analysis.
As the study continues, one thing remains clear: the United States’s energy future will only be truly sustainable if it is built on the foundation of respect for the land as well as the people who have called it home for thousands of years.
advertisement
Arizona is a state brimming with wild-west history, and one of its most celebrated traditions is the rodeo! Rodeos in Arizona provide a dynamic glimpse into this storied past, blending rugged cowboy skills with the high-octane energy of modern competition. advertisement Arizona Rodeo History Rodeo in Arizona traces its roots back to the late 1800s, reflecting the challenges and lifestyles of early cattle ranchers and cowboys. In Arizona, ranch hands faced the daily grind of herding cattle, breaking wild horses, and wrangling in the intense desert environment. Born out of necessity, the Rodeo was a way for these cowboys to
Arizona’s history is rich with tales of pioneers, miners, ranchers, and outlaws, but none are as infamous as the Cochise County Cowboys. These figures became synonymous with lawlessness in the late 1800s, and their stories spread far beyond the state’s borders. But what exactly made these cowboys so notorious? advertisement The Wild West Era and the Birth of Tombstone In the 1870s, the area that would become Tombstone, Arizona, was a barren stretch of land, home only to a few scattered settlements. But the town exploded when Ed Schieffelin, a prospector, discovered silver in the Tombstone Hills. By 1880, Tombstone
The Bobcats in Tucson Project (BIT), was launched by a group of Arizona Game and Fish retirees. They have provided insights into the lives of bobcats as they thrive in Tucson’s urban environments. The study, which ran from 2019 to 2024, highlighted the challenges and successes of bobcats coexisting with the human population in a sprawling city. advertisement The Bobcats in Tucson Project The BIT was driven by a team of wildlife experts, including Cheryl Mollohan, Kerry Baldwin, Al LeCount, Ron Day, and Dave Brown. They brought over 150 years of combined experience in wildlife research, management, and education. Their
As Arizona’s population continues to grow rapidly, the state faces the challenge of building a more efficient and sustainable transportation network to accommodate its residents. From urban sprawl in Phoenix to the quieter rural areas, Arizona’s transportation infrastructure is under increasing pressure. However, through a series of forward-thinking initiatives and innovative projects, Arizona is working to address these growing demands. While enhancing safety, sustainability, and mobility for cars, cyclists, pedestrians, and public transit users alike. advertisement Past Improvements and the Challenges Ahead Over the past few decades, Arizona has made great strides in expanding and upgrading its road infrastructure. Major
advertisement
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |