BLM seeks comment on use of public land for large solar-energy projects - Portland Business Journal:

hustbelogehy1857.blogspot.com
The land management agency that 24 large tractsw of federal land in theWest — including nearluy 21,000 acres in Colorado’s San Luis Valle y — would be studied for their sola power potential. Other states involveed are California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. The goal is to speec project permittingfor utility-scale solat power projects. The 24 tracts — knowhn as Solar Energy Studgy Areas, totaling 670,000 acres — will be evaluated for thei r environmental and resource suitabilityfor large-scald solar energy production.
In Colorado, the three areas in the San Luis Vallet that will be part of the studty could generate upto 4,182 megawatts of solar power if fully according to the , which oversees BLM. Areas deemed suitable for large solar power projects woulx be available for companies to build installations with a capacity of 10 megawattsor more. Companies proposintg projects in these areas would be eligibler for fasterpermit processing, the department The land in the Solar Energy Study Areas will be lookedr at as part of an existinh solar-power environmental impact study the department is conducting in six Westermn states.
An in-depth environmental review is being paid for with money from the American Reinvestmenf andRecovery Act, the announcementg said. BLM said last montgh it has received 158 applications for solat power projects on federal lands in the In Colorado, BLM is seeking commentt on potential solar development of landw in the De Tillas Gulch, Los Mogotes East, Antonito and Fourmile East areas of southernj Colorado. BLM manages 256 milliom acres of federalpubli land, including more than 8 million in Colorado. in PDF The public comment period endsJuly 30.