Jul 03 2008

BLM Lifts Freeze On Solar Power Applications In West

The federal Bureau of Land Management has lifted a freeze on solar power project applications in six Western states and will accept new applications for solar development on public land. BLM ordered a freeze on new applications at the end of May while it would study the environmental, economic and social impacts of projects on land in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.

"We heard the concerns expressed during the scoping period about waiting to consider new applications and we are taking action," James Caswell, BLM director, said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Solar Energy Industries Association welcomed the lifting of the moratorium, but Rhone Resch, president of the industry group, said: "BLM has only resolved half the problem. They have yet to approve a single solar energy project. Expediting the permitting process is the next step in developing solar energy projects on federal lands."

BLM has received about 130 applications for solar developments with a potential to power more than 20 million homes.

Posted by: Leonard Anderson | Comments (0) digg delicioussend to a friendprint entry

 

Categories

Energy , Environment , Solar

Leave a comment


E-mail this post


Your Name:
Your Friend's Email:

Subscribe to Blog rssIcon

> Go

Recent Comments

  • This is being rather generous to Lutz. 1. The "Volt", in no small part, will be targeted as a product to people who care about energy and environmental issues. These people don't embrace Lutz' antideluvian concepts of rejecting science. How responsible is it for a GM executive to be rejecting the science? 2. As well, Lutz didn't exactly sound too enthusiastic about the Volt itself. 3. And, GM public communications has 'defended' Lutz in rather absurd ways. -A Siegel
    > view entry


  • This article is right on - small businesses have a huge role to play in sustainability. Not only do they add up in aggregate, but many small businesses operate in industries that can have a significant environmental impact depending on the exact practices, like dry cleaners, auto repair shops, etc. Green is also starting to affect the bottom line more and more, customers are increasingly voting with their feet for more sustainable businesses as can be seen from the growth of sites like http://www.ecovian.com. This is also a huge opportunity for small businesses to leapfrog their bigger brothers by being more agile in adopting these measures. -Emily
    > view entry


  • Great entry, Katie. Love the level of detail you managed to get in there! Probably won't be able to compete with coal and oil any time the next decade, but definitely a great technology to look into! Keep it up :) -Rune (Norway)
    > view entry


Recent Posts