Yesterday SustainableBusiness.com reported that the solar industry was in an uproar over a decision by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to stop accepting applications for solar projects on public lands, while it conducted an environmental- and social-impact assessment.
Today the BLM announced that it has changed it’s mind and will continue adding to its backlog of some 125 applications.
"We heard the concerns expressed during the scoping period about waiting to consider new applications," said BLM Director James Caswell, "and we are taking action. By continuing to accept and process new applications for solar energy projects, we will aggressively help meet growing interest in renewable energy sources, while ensuring environmental protections."
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President Rhone Resch praised the decision. "While we applaud today’s announcement, 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," Resch said in a statement
In 2005 the BLM completed a PEIS for wind energy development on public lands and recently published for public comment a Draft programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) on geothermal energy development. The PEIS for solar development could take as long as 22 months according to some reports.
The BLM manages 258 million surface acres of this public land, most of which is located in 12 Western States, including Alaska. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources on the public lands.
Loading...