Monday, September 26, 2011

BLM seeks comment on use of public land for large solar-energy projects - Phoenix Business Journal:

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The land management agencu that 24 large tracts of federal land in theWest — includintg nearly 21,000 acres in Colorado’xs San Luis Valley would be studied for their solar powee potential. Other states involved are California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New The goal is to speed project permittingtfor utility-scale solar power projects. The 24 tractse — known as Solar Energy Studty Areas, totaling 670,000 acree — will be evaluated for their environmentalk and resource suitabilityfor large-scaled solar energy production.
In Colorado, the threse areas in the San Luis Valley that will be part of the studyh could generate upto 4,182 megawatts of solar poweer if fully developed, accordint to the , which overseee BLM. Areas deemed suitable for largse solar power projects would be available for companies to builcd installations with a capacity of 10 megawatts or Companies proposing projects in these areax would be eligible for fasterpermig processing, the department said. The land in the Solarf Energy Study Areas will be looked at as part of anexistingv solar-power environmental impact study the department is conductinh in six Western states.
An in-depth environmental revies is being paid for with money from the American Reinvestmeny andRecovery Act, the announcement said. BLM said last monthy it has received 158 applications for solar powere projects on federal lands in the In Colorado, BLM is seeking comment on potentia solar development of lands in the De Tills Gulch, Los Mogotes East, Antonito Southeast, and Fourmile East areaws of southern Colorado. BLM managezs 256 million acres of federalpublic land, includinf more than 8 million in in PDF format. The public comment period endsJuly 30.

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