The Wall Street Journal

Regarding your editorial "The Solar-Painted Desert" (Aug. 14): Solar is the latest industry the Department of the Interior leases land to, just like mining, cattle ranching and other energy sources—no special treatment has been requested or received. More lands are off-limits to solar (79 million acres) than are available. For perspective, there are 74 million acres leased by on- and offshore oil and gas projects. Also, there are no shortcuts in the National Environmental Policy Act when it comes to project reviews and approvals.

Solar is an increasingly mainstream technology; there are 5,000 megawatts of solar deployment across the U.S.—enough electricity to power 800,000 homes. Solar provides clean, emissions-free electricity—and helps us secure our energy independence and diversity our energy portfolio.