US renews push for solar energy
2011-10-28 14:01
Washington - The Obama administration on Thursday identified 17 sites in six Western states as prime candidates for solar energy projects on public lands, continuing a push for solar power despite the high-profile bankruptcy of a solar panel maker that received a half-billion dollar federal loan.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the latest "Solar Energy Zones" refine and improve on a draft released in December that identified two dozen areas in California, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.
Five sites in Nevada, four in Colorado, three in Utah, two each in California and Arizona, and one in New Mexico were identified as ideal for solar development.
The sites comprise 115 337ha, down from about 273 978ha in December, and reflect the department's judgment that the targeted land has the highest potential for solar development with the fewest environmental conflicts.
The plan is intended to promote development of large, utility-scale solar projects on public lands that will generate thousands of megawatts of electricity. The zones are intended to maximize electricity generation while minimising conflicts with wildlife, cultural and historic resources.
'Blueprint'
Salazar called the announcement a "giant step forward" as officials step up efforts to promote solar power, particularly in the West.
The administration's push for renewable energy has come under attack since California-based Solyndra Inc closed its doors two month ago after receiving a $528m federal loan. The company declared bankruptcy and laid off its 1 100 workers.
The new plan, which is subject to a 90-day public comment period, "establishes for the first time a blueprint for landscape-level planning that will help facilitate smarter siting of solar energy projects", Salazar said in a conference call with reporters.
It also proposes to open an additional eight million hectares of public land to future solar development.
Environmental groups hailed the announcement, but the solar industry was guarded in its response. Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, said he had "some significant areas of concern" about the solar energy zones.
Flexibility in project siting and access to transmission were crucial to financing and development of utility-scale solar power plants, Resch said, adding that he was optimistic a balanced approach could be found.
The Bureau of Land Management has done "a commendable job permitting solar power projects over the last two years", he said.
"We look forward to engaging with BLM and other stakeholders in this process to continue that momentum and ensure the industry's perspective is heard."
Conflicts
While California has only two projects - both near the Arizona border in the south-eastern corner of the state - it has more than half the total area, with 62 172ha. Nevada has the second-highest area at 24 441ha.
Salazar and other officials said the plan aims to reduce conflicts and delays in approving solar projects, by identifying areas that have been "pre-screened" to show they are near transmission sites and have few in any environmental conflicts. The sites are also considered to have strong sunlight, with minimal rain or clouds.
Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes said the new plan "provides more clarity" on how projects can proceed and gives potential developers certainty that they will be working in areas that the government considers suited for solar power.
The new plan is based in part on more than 80 000 comments received after the draft plan was announced in December. The seven sites that were dropped from the draft plan include two each in California, Nevada and New Mexico, and one in Arizona.
None of the seven sites had attracted significant interest from investors and either had looming environmental conflicts or were far away from transmission lines, Hayes said, adding that he is confident the remaining 17 projects will be attractive to utilities and other developers.
The department has 79 applications for solar projects on public lands pending and expects to approve as many as 14 next years, officials said.
Four public meetings on the plan are scheduled in November and December.
- AP