In an effort to combat climate change, the Biden administration plans to announce it would make federal lands less expensive to access for solar and wind companies, Reuters reported Tuesday.

The clean power industry has argued that lease rates and fees are too high.

Reviewing federal land policy for renewable energy products is part of Biden’s plan to combat climate change, transition away from fossil fuels, and cut carbon emissions in half by 2035. Biden also aims to get to 100% clean energy and net-zero emissions no later than 2050.

The administration plans to make a historic investment in clean energy, climate research, and innovation by incentivizing the rapid development of clean energy across the country.

Janea Scott, senior counselor to the Interior Department’s assistant secretary for land and minerals, acknowledged that "updates need to be made."

The Bureau of Land Management announced it initiated a process to revise regulations related to renewable energy permitting and rights of way on public lands. They will seek input from Native American tribes on rent lease schedules and fees for wind and solar right-of-way application processing times and environmental justice considerations.

Under the Obama administration, major solar projects paid $971 per acre per year in rent, along with $2,000 per megawatt in power, while wind generators paid $3,800. Whereas oil and gas only have to pay $1.50 to $2 per acre in rent. Drilling royalties in public land are usually around 12.5%.

According to Gene Grace, the general counsel for American Clean Power Association, until these burdensome costs are resolved the U.S. will be unable to live up to its potential to deploy homegrown clean energy products on public lands, thus negatively impacting the jobs and economic development that would come with it.

Solar Renewable energy Climate change