Common Grounds: Clean Energy Everyone Can Agree On
Co-locating wind and solar energy on existing federal oil and gas land is the bipartisan solution to sourcing land for new energy projects
Common Grounds starts with a simple realization: We are currently caught in a paradox. We need more electricity, but the path to clean energy is blocked by permitting delays and the environmental cost of clearing new land. The solution is simple: put clean energy where energy is already being produced.
That’s co-location, an approach where wind turbines and solar panels coexist with oil and gas on federal land. Rather than requiring an abrupt end to fossil fuel extraction, co-location enables a gradual transition— adding clean energy capacity while supporting local communities and making the most of land already dedicated to energy use. The result is new jobs and higher revenue emerging from existing lands while conserving undisturbed lands and communities.
Turning this opportunity into reality requires two things: making the deals work and clearing the policy path. We’re doing both. We prove what’s possible—mapping high-value sites and crunching all the data to help oil and gas operators and clean energy developers structure viable projects. We also make the policy work—building bipartisan momentum and advancing frameworks that enable co-location at scale.
At Planet Reimagined, we’re doing more than just advocating for this change, we’re making it actionable. By conducting the research, turning data into insight, and driving forward policy, and working with developers and locals, we’re knocking down the barriers that stand in the way of co-location. We’ve identified millions of acres of oil and gas leases that are perfect for renewable development. Our mission is to turn that data into insight and that insight into policy. We’ve already identified millions of acres of land leased for oil and gas with prime conditions for renewable energy development. By reimagining these sites as shared energy landscapes, this co-location model can unlock over 400 gigawatts of new renewable energy—enough to power more than 100 million homes—all while creating new revenue for communities that have long depended on fossil fuels.
Why this approach?
Learn more
The Co-Location Energy Act
Our map and current developments
How we’re engaging with communities and working with developers
Co-location
Co-location just makes sense. By using federal and state sites with existing oil and gas activity, we can generate clean energy without stopping current operations or disturbing new land. This approach reduces conflict across the energy sector. It protects the planet and leverages the community acceptance and infrastructure that’s already in place.
The upside isn’t just environmental- it’s economic and operational. Co-location unlocks new revenue from the same land for both communities and industry while streamlining permitting by building within already-approved energy zones backed by existing environmental reviews. For communities, it means more local jobs, stronger and more stable tax bases, and a transition that builds on existing infrastructure rather than starting from scratch.
Our Tools
The Co-Location Mapping Tool distills complex geospatial, environmental, and financial data into clear, actionable intelligence. In a single interactive map, you can identify high-potential oil and gas leases for solar integration, assess development feasibility, and navigate local permitting. By providing detailed context for every parcel, the tool empowers teams to move from data to decisions with total confidence.
What once required weeks of sifting through fragmented spreadsheets, GIS layers, and regulatory filings now takes only minutes. No more cross-referencing– just a single, powerful source of truth for on-the-ground impact. Learn how to best use it here.
The path to scale the co-location model has been blocked by one critical gap: the data needed to make it actionable is scattered across silos, from geospatial and environmental records to economic and infrastructure maps. No one has brought it together… until now. We’re working to integrate these datasets into a clear, accessible roadmap creating a practical and scalable strategy to speed up clean energy development while delivering economic benefits to transitioning communities. As a result, developers see lower-risk siting options. Oil and gas operators see revenue diversification and asset value. And, rural communities see opportunity and continuity, rather than disruption.
Policy
"I have worked with Planet Reimagined for a long time and have seen their advocacy for the future of our planet firsthand.“ -U.S. Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)
The Co-location Energy Act has emerged as a standout bipartisan success. The bill’s goal is simple: create a clear, accessible pathway to build clean energy on federal oil and gas lands. Co-location creates jobs for locals, increases output and revenue for the public and private sector, and supports conservation efforts, bridging the gap between various groups
The legislation is gaining significant momentum in both the House and the Senate, championed by Senators John Curtis and John Hickenlooper and Representatives Levin and Kennedy. Planet Reimagined’s research has been instrumental in the creation of this bill. A major milestone occurred in March 2026, when the House Committee on Natural Resources reviewed the bill. Our executive director, Adam Met, provided key testimony during the hearing, which concluded with overwhelming support for the proposal.
"A diverse energy grid through co-location is a sure-fire way to secure a resilient energy future for Utahns." -U.S. Representative John Curtis (UT-3), Chairman, Conservative Climate Caucus
Working Together
Our favorite way to connect with the people living near these energy sites is through a tried-and-true tradition: over a pint. By hosting events at local breweries, we create an approachable space to gather genuine feedback from the residents who see the real-world impact of new jobs and development firsthand. Their insights allow us to craft regionally adapted guidance for workforce development and community benefit frameworks that actually work.
We take this approach with people in the industry, too, by bringing renewable energy developers and oil and gas operators into the conversation. This highlights the common ground we all share, and helps us identify pathways for collaboration that might not come up in more formal settings. By aligning around mutual benefits, we’re able to move co-location forward as a pragmatic, cross-industry solution rather than a zero-sum transition.
These efforts do more than just collect data. By bringing a diverse group of stakeholders together, we’re helping to reframe American-made energy as something that benefits everyone - a practical, nonpartisan win for local communities, the economy, and the environment. Through this grassroots approach, co-location transforms from a policy concept into an opportunity for local employment and long-term community investment.
Resources & Tools
In the News
TIME: Adam Met on Movement Building, Music, And His Path To Climate Advocacy
A Pop Star's Wonky Climate Campaign
WALL STREET JOURNAL: Bipartisan Backing to Explore Fast Tracking Solar and Wind on Oil-And-Gas Lands
CNN: Hitmakers AJR Turn Music into Environmental Activism
EDF: Faster, affordable clean energy? This bipartisan bill delivers
Forbes: Clean Energy Expansion In The U.S. Requires Big Oil To Share Land
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