BLM BACKS OFF SOLAR POWER PLANTS

On the heels of news of a dreadful setback for solar power plants in the Southwest (see MORE IMPEDIMENTS TO SOLAR FROM BUSH ADMIN), comes news of an apparent reversal. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has decided it will NOT place a moratorium on new solar power plant applications for 2 years while it does an environmental impact study (EIS).

Rhone Resch, president, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): “We’re encouraged that the B.L.M. lifted their moratorium, but we’re only halfway there…We now need to get them to expedite the permitting of the solar projects on public land.”

The BLM’s decision displays a subtlety often lacking in Bush administration agencies. Unlike the dreadful scandals at Justice involving heavy-handed firing of attorneys who would not do obeisance to political objectives, this move by the BLM suggests a delicate touch.

As pointed out in the first post about the moratorium, the longer solar power plant development is delayed, the more natural gas is burned in the Southwest to generate electricity. A huge new Liquified Natural Gas facility at Ensenada, with new support pipelines in planning, is just about ready to go into service for the same states the solar power plant infrastructure would serve.

It would not be impossible for the BLM to take the same kind of hard line Justice did on the attorney firings – but it would just create the same kind of mess. Why bother? Clearly somebody over there has pointed out the new solar power plants can easily be delayed in the application process long enough for natural gas to get more entrenched.

Congressman Mark Udall (D-Colo): “This decision sends the right message to the renewable-energy industry that we are committed to working with them to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and increase our energy independence in an environmentally sound way.”

To paraphrase and update Sam Goldwyn, “If you want to send a message, SMS me.” As grateful as everyone is for your invaluable support, Congressman Udall, the solar power plant industry doesn’t need a message, it needs approvals from the Department of Interior on new sites and on new transmission. When it gets them, NewEnergyNews will stop making accusations about the people who might (or might not) be influencing the BLM.

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U.S. Lifts Moratorium on New Solar Projects
Dan Frosch, July 3, 2008 (NY Times)

WHO
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM); Rhone Resch, president, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

WHAT
BLM announced it would continue accepting applications for new solar power plant projects while it performed a comprehensive environmental impact study (EIS) on the effects of such installations.

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WHEN
- The moratorium was announced May 29. It was lifted July 2.
- The EIS is expected to take 2 years.
- Since 2005: 130 proposals for solar power plants filed with the BLM.
- 2007: PV projects up 48% over 2006 in the U.S.

WHERE
BLM land: 119 millions of acres in 6 Western states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.

WHY
BLM heard an outcry of complaints about the moratorium from Congress and the public over the impediment to crucial solar energy development it could be expected to cause.

The crucial, looming, unanswered question: What about new transmission? (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- James Caswell, Director, BLM: “We heard the concerns expressed during the scoping period about waiting to consider new applications, 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.”
- Celia Boddington, spokeswoman, BLM: “[BLM’s reversal was in part due to] significant Congressional interest in the issue.”