How do Public Lands contribute to local and national energy needs?
Lands managed by the Department of the Interior produce one-third of all domestic coal, oil and natural gas. In addition, renewable energy infrastructure on public lands administered by BLM is also one of the main sources of renewable energy, including two geothermal plants in Southwestern Utah. Demand for natural gas is expected to increase 50 percent over the next 20 years and oil consumption expected to increase 30 percent. Since 1970, the size of the average house has increased 55 percent while the size of the American family decreased 13 percent. More than half of U.S. households use natural gas (55 percent). It is the primary fuel used for heating in our nation. In addition, this clean-burning fuel is being used more and more for electrical generation. Since pipeline infrastructure is the primary means for transportation of natural gas, almost of all the nation’s natural gas must be produced domestically. A study conducted under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 2000 foun
