The BLM plus Interior and Energy Departments have released maps of areas they consider prime for large scale solar development projects. There have been some utility scale projects built, but this 'Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement' names 17 zones covering 285,000 acres in six southwestern states.
A different shading on the map indicates 'ongoing and future regional planning processes may approve solar development on approximately 19 million more acres that are located in "variance" areas lying outside of the identified SEZs.
Ars technica has more here, including this:
"Within the SEZs, developers will be able to use an accelerated permitting process, and will receive economic incentives. In the remaining 19 million acres, obtaining a development permit will now involve a defined process that should make approval less of an ad-hoc process. As part of the program, the BLM will set up a monitoring process that evaluates the initial developments and uses the information to help guide the approval and construction of future ones. That will also be used to develop a mitigation strategy to handle any environmental impacts from the development."
From PV Mag (and Interior's website)
- Outlining a process for industry, the public and other interested stakeholders to propose new or expanded zones (efforts already include California’s Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan and the West Chocolate Mountains Renewable Energy Evaluation, Arizona’s Restoration Energy Design Project, and other local planning endeavors in Nevada and Colorado);
- Including strong incentives for development within zones, including faster and easier permitting, improved mitigation strategies, and economic incentives;
Creating a clear process to facilitate development of well-sited projects on approximately19 million acres outside the zones;
- Protecting natural and cultural resources by excluding 78 million acres from solar energy development;
- Identifying design features (best practices) for solar energy development; and
- Establishing a framework for regional mitigation plans and a strategy for monitoring and adaptive management (the first mitigation pilot for the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone is already underway).
I was curious about the bits about working with stakeholders since NRDC was the main eco-organization named, and found that there are/were a number of lawsuits against CA projects. Haven't any idea of the merits or outcomes.
This image may be easier to see; I'll give a go. It it won't take, this is the url.