Desert West of Arizona Home to First Solar Projects on Federal Lands
Thursday, October 7, 2010
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Here comes the sun - and the renewable energy and jobs that go along with it. The Mojave Desert just west of Arizona will soon be home to the first solar energy projects to be built on federal lands. The U.S. government gave final approval this week to the Lucerne Valley and Imperial Valley solar projects.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar called the day "historic," and said the projects cut the red tape without cutting corners.
"Both will use innovative technologies from U.S.-based companies and bring jobs and energy to our nation's economy. Both bear the distinction of being the first large-scale solar energy projects ever approved for construction on our nation's public lands."
The plants are expected to begin transmitting electricity to California's power grid by the end of next year. The projects have also received the support of environmental groups that have fought to ensure the solar plants are "smart from the start" - meaning they're built in locations that protect wildlife and plants while creating much-needed renewable energy.
Alice Bond, public lands associate with The Wilderness Society, says few of the pilot projects on BLM's "fast track" are in places they would have picked, so environmental groups have worked hard to minimize significant impacts to the land and wildlife.
"It makes sense to start with careful planning up front so that we can have both clean energy and a healthy environment for generations to come. We at The Wilderness Society and our partners will continue to push for national siting standards, to ensure that future projects are done right from the beginning."
Interior Department officials say it's possible that construction permits could be issued for similar projects in Arizona by year's end.
More information is available at www.wilderness.org and www.doi.gov.
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