Not since the Gold Rush has there been such a stampede to stake out land in California and surrounding states, except this time, solar energy is the prize. The Bureau of Land Management has been swamped with applications for solar projects across millions of acres of desert since July.
The bureau has seen a 78% increase in applications, now totaling 223. The applicants are all looking to capitalize on desert land in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado, with California leading with 107 applications alone. All of the projects are 10 MW or larger, with many proposing hundreds of megawatts. All together the projects would take up 2.3 million acres of land and would generate many, many gigawatts (the 75 projects listed on the BLM website total 51.6 GW and that's only a third of the applicants).
Out of the 223 applications, only 2 projects have progressed to the stage of environmental reviews, the real "make or break" when it comes to issuing permits (one is a 400 MW solar-thermal plant proposed by BrightSource, the other a 750 MW solar-thermal plant proposed by Stirling Energy). This is partly because many projects don't ever get past the application, but largely because the BLM is understaffed for this kind of demand and the bureau can't keep up. The BLM is looking to the new administration to increase their budget so more employees can be hired to process these requests.
This is a great example of where the new administration could back up their "green jobs" agenda. Not only would the BLM be hiring, but imagine the jobs created by these large solar projects that would likely take years to get up and running. If even a few of these projects end up getting approved, this could mean lots of jobs and lots of new solar energy.
via Greentech Media
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written by bill, January 12, 2009
This is a great example of how the government says it is all for greener energy, but when companies actually want to build green power plants the government stops them through not processing permits.
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written by steve, January 13, 2009
Well I have never been a big fan of the BLM but supposedly they are trying to get all the information together so they will be able to ok many of these projects and not have to do each one individually. They simply don’t have the expertise or the manpower to do all projects at once. There are many environmental groups that are against using the desert for this purpose. In reality there is a huge amount of desert out there and these projects will take a relatively small amount of land. Another problem is most of these applications don’t have a prayer of ever getting built.
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written by Magnulus, January 13, 2009
Bill, if you're talking about Obama's plans for America's environmental and fiscal future, let's not forget that he's not the President YET. Still exactly a week left before that happens. You might start seeing some change by then, but for now, he's just preparing for his term.
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written by Robin Green, January 13, 2009
Haven't we seen this before?
Something like a hundred years ago, didn't settlers move west because of generous land grants to allow them to ranch cattle? Wasn't the Bureau of Land Management (or its predecessor) the agency that helped make this possible? And didn't the cattle ranges help wipe out the bison?
Given our current climate dilemma it sounds great, at first blush, to contemplate turning vast tracts of 'useless' land into solar thermal generation plants. But remember that a hundred years ago, the plains lands now leased by cattle ranchers were considered useless. Wouldn't it be better for us to take conservation much more seriously, instead of stampeding towards turning our deserts into electricity factories?
One day our descendants may look back on such decisions as the wrong choice for the right reasons. Just as we now look back on the land grants.
Something like a hundred years ago, didn't settlers move west because of generous land grants to allow them to ranch cattle? Wasn't the Bureau of Land Management (or its predecessor) the agency that helped make this possible? And didn't the cattle ranges help wipe out the bison?
Given our current climate dilemma it sounds great, at first blush, to contemplate turning vast tracts of 'useless' land into solar thermal generation plants. But remember that a hundred years ago, the plains lands now leased by cattle ranchers were considered useless. Wouldn't it be better for us to take conservation much more seriously, instead of stampeding towards turning our deserts into electricity factories?
One day our descendants may look back on such decisions as the wrong choice for the right reasons. Just as we now look back on the land grants.
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written by Natureadvice, January 13, 2009
Hi..
Looking forward from Mr.Obama how he handles the energy sector job growth as there was a 78% growth to solar energy industries since july last year.
I feel he have the potential to take natural energy industries to a differant level as he is a global admiration person..and with BLM understaffed i think they too need time to settle down as the new goverment to solve issue with a future opening gates for all green collar jobs...people should understand how each individual can contribute to get global warming to slow down as it is hampering the nature..guys i would really appreciate if this blog continue on solar or any other energy on a broader level..websites like http://www.justmeans.com are helping people to get knowledge on enviroment issues or CSR ...
Looking forward from Mr.Obama how he handles the energy sector job growth as there was a 78% growth to solar energy industries since july last year.
I feel he have the potential to take natural energy industries to a differant level as he is a global admiration person..and with BLM understaffed i think they too need time to settle down as the new goverment to solve issue with a future opening gates for all green collar jobs...people should understand how each individual can contribute to get global warming to slow down as it is hampering the nature..guys i would really appreciate if this blog continue on solar or any other energy on a broader level..websites like http://www.justmeans.com are helping people to get knowledge on enviroment issues or CSR ...
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written by Jay Tee, January 13, 2009
@ robin green:
Go away, you fool. First of all, the solar plants are going up in areas that never had bison- these areas are too arid.
Secondly, bison if they were there, could co-exist with solar panels.
Thirdly, solar energy is far less disruptive than other energy sources; take your pick of 'harm'.
Lastly, if liberal/environment dopes like yourself got their way, there would be no renewable energy initiatives at all- you always find something to whine unrealistically about.
Go away, you fool. First of all, the solar plants are going up in areas that never had bison- these areas are too arid.
Secondly, bison if they were there, could co-exist with solar panels.
Thirdly, solar energy is far less disruptive than other energy sources; take your pick of 'harm'.
Lastly, if liberal/environment dopes like yourself got their way, there would be no renewable energy initiatives at all- you always find something to whine unrealistically about.
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written by bhowell, January 13, 2009
My, Jay Tee, what a sound and reasoned argument. You must be a real pleasure to have dinner with.
Robin wasn't saying that there are BISON IN THE DESERT, but was rather drawing an analogy between the current rush toward desert development and the environmental devastation caused by settling the American plains.
While the deserts may seem like an arid wasteland, they actually support a huge amount of plant, insect, and animal life. Just the Sonoran Desert itself supports hundreds of species of animals and birds, and thousands of varieties of plants. I think it would be difficult to argue with the value of studying these areas before changing them wholesale.
Finally, your comment about liberal/environmental dopes seems particularly ironic, given that we're discussing solar energy, which has been largely championed by the very people you're mocking. Perhaps you'd prefer to enjoy the air quality of a poorly regulated, carbon-heavy energy system? If so, I believe they sell airline tickets to China. Please enjoy yourself.
Robin wasn't saying that there are BISON IN THE DESERT, but was rather drawing an analogy between the current rush toward desert development and the environmental devastation caused by settling the American plains.
While the deserts may seem like an arid wasteland, they actually support a huge amount of plant, insect, and animal life. Just the Sonoran Desert itself supports hundreds of species of animals and birds, and thousands of varieties of plants. I think it would be difficult to argue with the value of studying these areas before changing them wholesale.
Finally, your comment about liberal/environmental dopes seems particularly ironic, given that we're discussing solar energy, which has been largely championed by the very people you're mocking. Perhaps you'd prefer to enjoy the air quality of a poorly regulated, carbon-heavy energy system? If so, I believe they sell airline tickets to China. Please enjoy yourself.
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written by Kathryn in MA, January 15, 2009
instead of tearing up fragile desert, why not site new solar arrays on the land already ruined by salt from irrigation?
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written by Sean Kidd, January 21, 2009
Not in my back yard...but whose back yard is it really, vast phota voltaic solar arrays could easily subsidise the grid on high demand days throughout the desert southwest, I'm sure some of you remember the $18/kW demand charges a few years ago...I'll go out on a limb..."all solar is earth friendly" you cant smell it, taste it, hear it, spill it or die from it (spf 15 recommended)
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written by Joe the Engineer, January 21, 2009
Watch out tribal people. This could be a great opportunity to generate jobs and funding on the rez. But it could also be another opportunity for land exploitation by the man.
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written by Tom in San Jose, January 21, 2009
BLM can't handle all the applications because the prios administration (Bush) starved them for staff increases. Now that Obama has taken over I would hope that staff increases would forthcoming so that we can get started on these projects. Europe is way ahead of us and have plans for solar thermal farms in the Sahara with the energy piped to Europe using ultra-high voltage transmission lines running around the east end of the Med. This has been in the works for some time and their evolution to a UHV DC ytransmission system is because AC just has too many losses at ultra-high voltage over long distances.
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written by TAG Laugier, January 23, 2009
BLM is not the best model for sensible environmental management of public lands. While many think of Deserts as "wastelands" they are wrong, as aptly stated in numerous blogs above.
Having driven from DFW to Telluride and back across the rockies via Pueblo, CO a month ago I can attest to the adverse impact of reckless uses of BLM "desert" lands. Not only are the cattle, gas, oil and mining projects that scar this vast landscape environmental disasters they are also government subsidies that benefit the very rich corporations and politically gifted businessmen.
I am not sure if a socially conscious and environmentally friendly policy will ever become part of the BLM decision making process. We should definitely demand this change before rushing into another round of land grabs and handouts for the FEW.
Keep up the good work!
TAG Laugier
Having driven from DFW to Telluride and back across the rockies via Pueblo, CO a month ago I can attest to the adverse impact of reckless uses of BLM "desert" lands. Not only are the cattle, gas, oil and mining projects that scar this vast landscape environmental disasters they are also government subsidies that benefit the very rich corporations and politically gifted businessmen.
I am not sure if a socially conscious and environmentally friendly policy will ever become part of the BLM decision making process. We should definitely demand this change before rushing into another round of land grabs and handouts for the FEW.
Keep up the good work!
TAG Laugier
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written by Hamid Emami, January 27, 2009
We were doing all kinds of research on solar energy deal about 32 years ago at ASU college of architecture and environmental design, and I am sure it wasn't only us who were concerned about well being of our environment.
Now I am back after about 30 years and I expected to see much much more progress on this vital issue which would save us from being so dependent on the OIL and all the destroying effects it has in many many ways,and to every one's loss it seems like we haven't been very earth friendly lately.
I too am concerned about preservation of desert and its intact and valuable environment, but with a little bit of talent and sensitivity in planning it is possible to blend the man made and nature together. furthermore let's not sacrifice the whole planet in order to save the desert because once the planet is destroyed the desert is gone too.
At last I think with all the support from Mr.Obama and his administration,this is the last chance we have to achieve this vital goal and leave our descendants an environment they can breath in.
Now I am back after about 30 years and I expected to see much much more progress on this vital issue which would save us from being so dependent on the OIL and all the destroying effects it has in many many ways,and to every one's loss it seems like we haven't been very earth friendly lately.
I too am concerned about preservation of desert and its intact and valuable environment, but with a little bit of talent and sensitivity in planning it is possible to blend the man made and nature together. furthermore let's not sacrifice the whole planet in order to save the desert because once the planet is destroyed the desert is gone too.
At last I think with all the support from Mr.Obama and his administration,this is the last chance we have to achieve this vital goal and leave our descendants an environment they can breath in.
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written by AT, March 19, 2009
It is not green at all to destroy so much habitat in an attempt to save the Earth and create jobs. Most solar thermal plants require 6 are feet of water per megawatt. Too little water for that. Scraping up the desert will kill a huge amount of the biodiversity of the planet. The Mojave Desert has far more biodiversity than the artic. But we all want to now make the tortoise go extinct to save the polar bear? Why choose? Wew have all the roof tops in the southwest we will ever need to go solar. Obama and Harry Reid can leave the desewrts alone. More here: www.basinandrangewatch.org
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