Report: BLM on Track to Feed Energy Needs from AZ Sun
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
PHOENIX - The sun is shining on the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in a new report from The Wilderness Society (TWS) that delves into the federal agency's proposed Solar Energy Zones (SEZs), including the Brenda area 100 miles west of Phoenix.
TWS renewable energy coordinator Alex Daue explains that their independent review and research shows the BLM looks to be on track in outlining areas suitable for large-scale solar energy development. Daue says Brenda is ideal not only because it has fantastic solar resources, but their researcher found low-quality shrub and brush landscape that isn't critical for wildlife habitat.
"The vegetation in the area is dominated by salt-tolerant plants that are unusable to most wildlife. So his analysis has shown that there aren't a lot of sensitive species in this area."
Daue says the land is flat, which allows for easy, cost-effective construction without a lot of grading. Other SEZs reviewed in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada each also get a "thumbs up" in the report.
Daue says The Wilderness Society hired a wildlife biologist for the Arizona review. The biologist studied literature, analyzed maps and talked with Arizona Game and Fish, BLM, and other conservation groups about potential Arizona sites.
"And then he's been going out to them and taking a look on the ground to see: Does what we've seen in the data match up with what we see on the ground here? Does this really seem like an appropriate place for solar development?"
The Wilderness Society is asking the BLM to require that solar projects be sited in these zones as a way to protect wild lands and wildlife habitat and speed up responsible development. That being said, Daue points out that more detailed studies and public input opportunities would happen before construction.
"If there's a place that turns out it is a place that someone wanted to use for hunting, or had other resources and values there that should be addressed, the public is encouraged to go to the meetings that the BLM will be holding, to send in comments."
The BLM has identified 24 solar energy study areas throughout the Southwest. So-called Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements are expected to be released Friday.
The full report is at wilderness.org
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