U.S. Freezes Solar Energy Projects

[DogPoundPup]

June 27th, 2008

Do you get it yet?

Via: New York Time:

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.”

Much of the 119 million surface acres of federally administered land in the West is ideal for solar energy, particularly in Arizona, Nevada and Southern California, where sunlight drenches vast, flat desert tracts.

Galvanized by the national demand for clean energy development, solar companies have filed more than 130 proposals with the Bureau of Land Management since 2005. They center on the companies’ desires to lease public land to build solar plants and then sell the energy to utilities.

Related: America’s Military Spending and Clean Energy
http://cryptogon.com/?p=2795

[hermetic]

1. There are no words

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:


:cry:

[liberal N proud]

2. What possible explanation makes this justifiable?

At at time when we are facing energy challenges beyond compare, this regime and their cronies once again show favor to the Oil and coal companies.


:argh: :grr: :nuke: :cry:

[phantom power]

16. Maybe the BLM wants to make sure they don't fuck up our public land?

I realize that I'm now going to endure another round of "PP is Dick Cheney's ass-puppet," but maybe it's OK for BLM to ask these companies to provide an EIA for their plans to install power plants on our public land.

[wtmusic]

21. Agree.

IMO what wind power did the Palm Springs, CA landscape is a nightmare. But I'm clearly in the minority around here.

[jtrockville]

3. “It doesn’t make any sense,” said Holly Gordon

Yeah... just ask the oilmen in the White House how much cents this makes.

[CrispyQ]

4. But, but, but . . .

boosh is concerned about the environment, guys, come on! You're so harsh on him!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3535749

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[jimshoes]

5. Not while they're still squeezing oil money out of us

Imagine what would happen if all that icky goo was suddenly worthless or worth less at any rate. Exxon Mobil would only net 21 billion a year.

[predfan]

6. you know it, I know it, they know it

nothing good will happen until the criminals are out of the White House.

[ladjf]

9. The only hope of breaking the oil monopoly stranglehold is to

develop alternate energy sources as soon as possible. Placing what amounts to indefinite holds on allowing solar and wind projects to proceed is exactly the opposite of what MUST happen and soon.

The criminals must be removed as soon as possible and that means the first month of Obama's term.

[ladjf]

7. Big oil is running our national energy policy and they are continuing

to do everything possible to inhibit the growth of alternate energy initiatives.

To delay all solar projects on public land for at least two years under the flimsy pretense of environmental study is far beyond disingenuous, it is totally immoral.

We should have started pushing solar,wind,geothermal and tidal energy years ago. Now, in the face of a global economic collapse, the Feds halt one of the major components of new energy just to assure that the oil companies will continue to make billions per quarter right up until the collapse.

My God America, you have got to rise up and kick those greedy, immoral sons of bitches OUR OF OUR GOVERNMENT as soon as possible.

If Obama gets elected, and I think that he will, he must not be allowed to continue this insane policy of allowing the oil companies to continue to extort money out of all of us.

[w4rma]

12. Not only immoral but traitorous. The people behind this should be tried for treason. (nt)

[ladjf]

14. Most definitely. But, we all know that they won't be.

Since it's obvious that the crooks in charge are hell bent on riding this horse of disaster right off into the ditch of economic collapse, I believe that the best bet to regain control of all of our lives would be for a global project that promotes the development and use of renewable energy by
supporting the development of technology and supplementing the costs for those who use the technology.

The main money would have to come from the large sectors that are on the verge of collapse, i.e.
airlines, trucking, auto and truck manufacturers, tourism, and grocery chains. (there are many others)

I would propose to these industries that since they are obvious on the verge of being out of business by following the current suicidal course with oil, their best chance to break the oil monopoly would be to bypass Governments, who are under the control of big oil, and finance the energy
revolution using their own funds. That would mean funds from concerned businesses Globally.

With a base funding of 100 to 200 billion, the goal of replacing oil demand by 20% within eight years is very possible. Such a goal would break the back of the monopoly, lowering oil prices during the eight years. After that, it's all gravy. Oil would be used for certain applications for which no other is feasible while renew ables are used in ways that are best suited for it.

[Raster]

17. Big Oil = The Texas-American Petroleum Mafia

And yes, they will not go quietly into the sustainable energy future. The T/A Petroleum Mafia--and their evil twin, the Military Industrial Complex--will do whatever it takes to keep THEIR PIPELINE flowing as they have done for decades. Jimmy Carter tried to warn us and guide us toward a different energy future, but the Mafia and the Complex would have none of it. Carter was kicked to the curb by a false energy crisis and traitorous dealings with Iran to keep American hostages LONGER. The Mafia has manipulated *energy* at other times to yield more favorable politicians and market conditions. Witness the Enronization and the bogus energy crisis that the Mafia wrought on California. Gray Davis knows what it feels like when the Petroleum Mafia boys turn their thumbs down.

[ladjf]

18. You are 100% on the money. Keep up the good posts.

[Raster]

19. Thank you!

[ladjf]

8. Who in the hell is in charge of the Bureau of Land Management?

He or she needs to be sacked immediately. Of course he/she is taking orders from the Bush Administration.

[XemaSab]

10. The Bureau of Livestock and Mining?

If you're waiting for them to go green, don't hold your breath.

All the proposed project sites will probably be repurposed as OHV areas and aggregate mines. x(

[IDemo]

20. Former Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne is the Secretary of the Interior

[corkhead]

11. OH NOES!1!!!!1! OH NOES!!111!111!!!! SOLAR PANELS MIGHT BLOCK THE SUN11!!!!!!111!

[BlueJac]

13. The noose gets tighter....

to atrangle America!

[ladjf]

15. I hope there is some truth in the old saying "beware of the wounded

animal" because America is badly wounded and is about to be brought to its knees.

Wakeup my Countrymen! There is still a way to retake our Government from the hands of the arch criminals who are now in charge.

Electing Obama would be a good step in that direction. He might not be perfect but, he's way better than what we have had and way better than Sen. McCain.