The Department of Interior announced December 20 the approval of two utility-scale renewable energy projects, including the first on public lands in Arizona and a solar project in California. Combined, the two projects will generate 500 MW and create 700 construction jobs. The Sonoran Solar Energy Project, proposed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, will use PV panels to generate 300 MW in the southwest Arizona desert. The Tule Wind Power Projects, proposed by a subsidiary of Iberdrola Renewables, will produce 186 MW via 62 wind turbines on public lands east of San Diego.