Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2015

The Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2015 aims to streamline the process for developing wind, solar, and geothermal energy projects on federal lands. It directs the Department of the Interior to identify priority areas for these projects and establishes a coordinated permitting process to reduce bureaucratic delays.

For citizens, the bill creates a new "Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund" using a portion of the revenue generated from these energy leases. This fund would be used to restore local fish and wildlife habitats and improve public access for outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and hiking in regions impacted by energy development. Additionally, the bill ensures that large-scale energy projects pay standard rental fees to the federal government, with a portion of those funds distributed back to the states and counties where the projects are located.