Citing Need for Assessments, U.S. Freezes Solar Energy Projects

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: Washington Post

DENVER — Faced with a surge in the number of proposed solar power plants, the federal government has placed a moratorium on new solar projects on public land until it studies their environmental impact, which is expected to take about two years.

The Bureau of Land Management says an extensive environmental study is needed to determine how large solar plants might affect millions of acres it oversees in six Western states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.

But the decision to freeze new solar proposals temporarily, reached late last month, has caused widespread concern in the alternative-energy industry, as fledgling solar companies must wait to see if they can realize their hopes of harnessing power from swaths of sun-baked public land, just as the demand for viable alternative energy is accelerating.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Holly Gordon, vice president for legislative and regulatory affairs for Ausra, a solar thermal energy company in Palo Alto, Calif. “The Bureau of Land Management land has some of the best solar resources in the world. This could completely stunt the growth of the industry.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/us/27solar.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1214577165-GOCshM4e/wvGHjA7Kczp7w

[fascisthunter]

1. well... do it right the first time

but damn... two fucking years....?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. NOW they want an EI study? What if I wanted to drill for oil there, instead?

[Trillo]

3. That's what I was thinking.

It seems that oil kills a lot of people through various causes, including cancers. So why not an EI for oil? The study area could be the entire ecosystem, including the Pacific where millions or billions of plastic "oil" bags float in the sea.

[mbperrin]

4. Oh, no! Can't have SOLAR! The wrong people own that industry.

After all, that sunshine is so, so, so polluting! What we need are nice green NU-KU-LAR plants, all owned by the RIGHT people, but we'll never get 'em if these solar freaks fill in the gap in the next couple of years. We need a CRISIS so that all the NU-KU-LAR issues can be swept under the rug. PLUS, solar projects don't need big government subsidies, so KBR, etc can't get into the public trough with it, they might even have to spend their own money.

So by all means, let's freeze out the solar people, who want to PAY to use public lands, so that we can continue and enlarge our giveaway to our FAVORITE corporations!!!!!


:nuke:

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. New Bush Directives Exempt Oil & Gas from Environmental Impact on BLM lands

06/15/2008 Denver Post

Bush prepares parting shots on National Forests, Parks and BLM lands

The Bush administration is pressing in its waning months in office to implement a spate of rule and policy changes that could reshape the face of the West.

The changes at the federal Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would open tracts to development while removing protections for land and species.




The most visible of the Bush administration moves in Colorado was the BLM's decision last week to open 52,000 acres of the Roan Plateau to oil and gas leasing. The lease sale is scheduled for August.
Among other actions are:

• The issuance of a new BLM handbook on implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, which exempts some drilling, logging and mining activities from environmental review.

• A commitment by the BLM's Utah office to issue six resource-management plans this summer that will set the stage to offer almost 9 million acres for oil and gas leases.

• Revisions of the BLM's manual on threatened and endangered species that would remove state-designated species from protection on BLM land. Among the species losing protection in Colorado would be the kit fox and boreal toad.

• New National Forest Management Act regulations, filed April 21, that would remove protecting species on national forest land as a management goal and loosen controls on logging.

• A commitment by the BLM to issue proposed oil-shale- leasing rules this summer — even though Congress has prohibited the bureau's spending money on issuing final rules.

• An effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to issue by December its final rule on whether to protect the greater sage grouse — even though in a court settlement the agency had agreed to issue it in 2009.

• The granting by the BLM of "categorical exemptions" created under the 2005 Energy Policy Act to spare drilling operations from environmental reviews in areas where drilling has already taken place.
In each of the cases, a succeeding presidential administration could reverse policies and rules — though it might take time.

"Virtually nothing is undoable," said Trent Orr, an attorney with Earthjustice, an advocacy law firm that has sued to block the Forest Service management rules.

http://www.denverpost.com/nationalpolitics/ci_9589531

[glitch]

6. Ah, the other shoe drops.

Cannot wait until our culture has evolved beyond the power of these crooks.

[djp2]

23. HEADLINE NEWS

These two headlines (Stopping solar while allowing oil) should be headline news!! Bushie makes oil profits while stopping the competition!!

[lovuian]

7. they want to control it

like they can control oil and gas but controlling the sun is pretty hard

[Occulus]

35. Watch them next try to "regulate" solar power in such a way as to

put one or two companies- owned by them or their cronies, of course- into the position of being able to meet the regulations.

I would be completely unsurprised by such a development.

[elehhhhna]

41. nah... once Carlyle Group buys a few solar gen co's,

it'll be full speed ahead.

And solar will be EXPENSIVE. Very, very expensive and with very high profit margins.

Won't take 2 years, either -- not if they can listen to the competition & read their emails now.

[Arctic Dave]

8. We wouldn't want anyone to cut into the oil companies

price gouging scheme.

[vinylsolution]

9. Meanwhile.....

.... the polar ice keeps on melting, coal power plants keep belching out CO2, and Congress sits on its hands and does nothing.

[Phred42]

10. The facts don't matter - Like: The rest of the world has already proven this

[agentS]

11. It's a solar plant with solar cells

the worse that can happen is what, exactly? It's a panel, not an oil well or a nuclear fuel rod. The worse that can happen is if a strong breeze makes a few panel get ripped from their post. It's a flippin' DESERT. Some extra shade isn't gonna make a snake species go extinct.
The roadway and the cables, yeah I could see the need for a EI study there. But that won't take 2 years to do.

Peak oil is probably here and we're shooting ourselves in the foot.

[Tafiti]

12. Oh, shocking.

That's what happens when a timber industry lobbyist gets appointed Secretary of the Interior.

Obama better pick a good Sec. of Int. and Sec. of Ag. so the BLM and Forest Service will stop gutting our forests, polluting our rivers, and killing off species. That would be a nice change of pace. Those agencies are only as good as the people who run them.

[OneBlueSky]

13. idiots . . . greedy, amoral idiots . . . n/t

.

[mopinko]

16. nothing else to say.

that about sums it up.

[benld74]

14. Studies their environmental impact? for solar plants?

How bout studies on how this administration puts things off until the need for things fizzle out? or until they can make better profits off them!

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

33. What environmental impact does west Texas have?

I know its not in the "list", but really, there is nothing but desert out west.

[robinlynne]

15. the environmental impact of solar? two years? jail!

[Indenturedebtor]

17. And yet... Impeachment is STILL OFF THE TABLE n/t

[Doctor_J]

18. This is a rerun from Ronald Wilson Alzheimer's reign

we'd be 25 years along the path toward solar power if the old fossil hadn't kowtowed to the oil barons.

[BootinUp]

19. The solar panels might suck up too much sun light and inadvertently

create a black hole, lol.

[MasonJar]

20. Time to get more drilling in the pristine Anwar! We already know what that impact

will be and the Bushistas are pushing it.

[sutz12]

21. Could we get an Environmental Impact study on the White House?

Seems like we'd find more destruction of habitat there than anywhere else in the world.

:shrug:

[pattmarty]

22. But they can still "drill the shit out of" all the same areas.

[Ian David]

24. Who can forget the images of all those solar panels desroyed during Katrina...

No, wait...



REMINDER: Katrina oil spills may be among worst on record (113 offshore platforms destroyed)
Topic started by IanDB1 on Jun-19-08 09:51 AM (13 replies)
Last modified by underpants on Jun-19-08 03:10 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3482695

[high density]

25. It doesn't make any sense-- welcome to Bushworld

“Reclamation is another big issue,” Ms. Resseguie said. “These plants potentially have a 20- to 30-year life span. How to restore that land is a big question for us.”

How about we "reclaim" the land by building another solar plant on it when that one's lifespan ends?

[mcollier]

26. This is a welcoming of China and India in to the US green market

Thanks to the oil companies...

[Robb]

36. Devil's Advocate, but it actually is a big issue

...in the long game. Remember, this is public land. Yours, mine. I think an EIS is appropriate -- albeit the process should have begun long ago.

I'll probably get flamed for it, but in 30 years, when we're getting energy from some relatively unobtrusive process, damn right I'd want the land to be reclaimed, and I'd want a plan in place to do it. What if the same energy can be harnessed in 20 years from 1/1000th the land area? Should we leave these big panels out to rot in the sun?

There are a lot of renewable resources. Public land is not one of them. AND yes, these same standards need to be applied across the board for all uses of public lands.

[Ichingcarpenter]

37. See my post #5

and then see how hypocritical the Bush administration is
this has nothing to do with environmental impact.

[Robb]

39. I agree. But that doesn't condemn the EIS process

It may be the bogeyman being trotted out here, but it's sound policy.

And on the CX's, remember, despite the high number:

"An exclusion can be granted to a drilling operation that disturbs less than 5 acres, is on a site were drilling has occurred in the past five years, or is a field that has had an environmental impact study in the past five years."

...This is exactly how we want them to drill, if they're going to drill. And they will drill.

[WhiteTara]

27. wouldn't want to get ahead of the curve!

fossil fuels are still around, even though they are scarce and expensive and devastating!
I am so filled with judgements and punishments for these cretins who want to kill the world, it makes me sick :puke:

[lark]

28. Is there no low to which they won't sink

in their efforts to ensure the total hegemony of big oil over our energy supplies? Study, my ass. It's so typical of the BFEE administration, first deny there's a problem, (like global warming), then when they can't get away with that, "study" it (forget it) as an excuse to never take action. If it's something they want - like war - they just go do it and screw the world. These are evil, nasty people, and I absolutely can't wait until they are out of power.

[windoe]

29. The paradigm shift toward alternative energy

has to grow from the grassroots up, in my opinion. I think the longer we wait for these corrupt oily officials to make the switch, it will be too late. We have been waiting for them for too long, when will people figure out---they are not going to do it, oil controls this government!!!!!
Can't hurt to speak out though, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[natrat]

30. falls into the serious WTF category of disbelief

[JerseygirlCT]

31. Ok, I'm lost. What are the possible bad things from solar?

Can someone explain what the concern is?

[Lorien]

32. This:

Doesn't enrich BushCo as much as this:



http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/12/09/OIL_ST_wideweb__470x298,0.jpg

[depakid]

47. That's what environmental assessments are designed to tell you

The union of concerned scientists has a nice little review comparing energy sources here:

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renewable_energy_basics/environmental-impacts-of-renewable-energy-technologies.html

[iquiring mind]

34. It's what big government does

It stifles entrepreneurs and the free market.

My parents tried to develop land they lived on and build a small neighborhood community. The government hindered their efforts for two years, then finally approved it without requiring any changes to their original plans. They could have sold their developed lots in the height of the housing boom and lived out their retirement in comfort. Now they may lose everything. From self sufficiency to depended upon the government in their "Golden Years".

When you wish for greater government control remember that eventually the other party will have that control!!!

[daleo]

38. And big corporations.

Sometimes the two work hand in hand.

[BREMPRO]

40. OK, so they want to relax enviromental rules on offshore OIL drilling, AND tighten them...

on CLEAN Solar Energy...whats wrong with this picture? upside-down priorities. Houston, we have a problem!

[ohio2007]

42. The Bureau of Land Management eh ? Are they worried the unnatural man made shade

will create unwanted biodiversity ?


Kinda like off shore oil rig reefs ?

[Zorra]

43. Isn't James Caswell, a Bu*h appointee, the Director of the Bureau of Logging and Mining?

That would pretty much explain it, I'm thinkin'.

[libertypirate]

44. what a load of horseshit

What is the environmental impact of renting someones roof top?

It's a Bush thing what's up is down and what's down is up.

[Born_A_Truman]

45. As someone who lives in the desert in California

where the plan is to put over 2,000 of these panels on the dry lake east of my home, I have concerns.

Have you ever had the car in front of you blind you when the sun hits their rear window driving? My home faces the dry lake and in the afternoon when these giant panels turn to capture the sun they will all be pointed at my house.




I know they can find places for these big projects that aren't anywhere near homes. There are millions of acres in the Mojave miles away from communities. I don't know anyone who would want 2,000 of these in their front yard.

[ohio2007]

48. Politicians have gone on record as being +voting against wind power generators being placed offshore

but maybe your "eyesore" reasoning is one worth looking into.
I recall a story about a "mirror" building across the street from a coffee shop, barber shop or something. At certain times of the day the shop would have the same candle light intensity as looking directly into the sun.
The glass building across the street was fitted with what amounted to being a lens filter film.
Certain wavelengths were no longer reflected but rather absorbed.

[yurbud]

46. My letter to congress cowards and LINK TO CONTACT YOURS:

FIND YOURS:
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/index.html


I was very disturbed to read that the BLM has imposed a two year moratorium on new solar power plants in the Southwest, at a time when we should be expanding that kind of energy at a pace that dwarfs the Apollo or Manhattan Projects.

Not only is our country being crippled by high oil prices at the pump, but big oil is using their immense power to dictate our foreign policy, including seizing the oil fields of Iraq, dictating the terms of the Iraqis Hydrocarbon Law, and requiring our troops to stay in Iraq to protect their oil concessions, all at the cost of the lives of thousands of our troops, over a million Iraqi lives, and potentially trillions of our tax dollars according to Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

It is the utmost importance to our national and economic security that the stranglehold oil companies have on our economy and foreign policy be broken by giving consumers easy access to energy choices that are not so costly in lives and tax dollars.

One study determined that 92 square miles of solar power could provide for ALL the energy needs of the US.
http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/991/

We could do that without killing one more Iraqi grandmother or causing the birth of another Iraqi baby deformed by depleted uranium, or one more US service member coming home in an aluminum box.

You must demand an explanation from the BLM, and require them to expediate the environmental impact assessment.

I seem to recall that same part of the country being chosen fairly quickly for nuclear waste dumps and even testing atom bombs. If it can survive that, some solar panels probably won't hurt anything.