BLM briefs Yerington council on geothermal leases, solar and data‑center proposals; residents press water and cultural‑resource concerns

Acting District Manager Matt Magaletti of the Bureau of Land Management told the Yerington City Council that the agency is processing multiple energy and land‑use proposals in the region, including 13 geothermal lease sales totaling 32,175 acres and several solar projects now under application review.

"There are currently 13 geothermal lease sales, totaling 32,175 acres," Magaletti said, and outlined a NEPA schedule that includes public comment and final‑document milestones through August with parcel sale dates proposed for October 2026. He also described several solar project applications and said projects proposed near Lyon County now require special permits and multiple federal authorizations.

Magaletti listed four data‑center applications south of the industrial parks and said BLM is addressing water‑source concerns raised by the community while baseline surveys and geotechnical requests are completed. He described the Pine Nut battery energy storage proposal as a 200‑megawatt site that would include an on‑site substation and tie into the Walker River Substation.

Residents pressed the council and BLM on possible local impacts. Robbin Biggs asked for clearer contact points and greater transparency around Libra Solar and water usage; Leah Wilkinson asked the agency to reassess plans that could affect areas used for traditional pine‑nut gathering and other tribal uses. Magaletti said the NEPA process includes cultural and environmental reviews and noted that some projects have submitted cultural reports for review.

The briefing also noted an Atlantic Richfield Company application to acquire approximately 2,062 acres near the Anaconda Mine and described a proposed Greenlink West 345 kV transmission line segment that would span roughly 15.7 miles and serve multiple end‑users.

Why it matters: the BLM‑administered projects would cover large acreages near Yerington and could affect water resources, cultural sites and local infrastructure. Councilmembers did not vote on federal proposals but recorded public concerns and requested clearer public information pathways.

What comes next: Magaletti gave NEPA milestone dates and said that formal permits, environmental analyses and appeals periods will precede any land sales or authorizations. Residents and interested parties were directed to BLM public‑comment postings and baseline survey notices.