Feds impose moratorium on solar power
June 27th, 2008 by Jim JustThe New York Times reports that 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.
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.
Joseph Romm at Climate Progress comments:
- Drilling for oil and gas, even in pristine areas — hey, we’re former oil company executives.
- Leveling mountains in beautiful West Virginia — we’re all for it.
- Toxic metals from mining — bring ‘em on!
- Logging old-growth forests — what so you think forests are for?
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. According to the bureau, the applications, which cover more than one million acres, are for projects that have the potential to power more than 20 million homes.
All involve two types of solar plants, concentrating and photovoltaic. Concentrating solar plants use mirrors to direct sunlight toward a synthetic fluid, which powers a steam turbine that produces electricity. Photovoltaic plants use solar panels to convert sunlight into electric energy.
The industry is already concerned over the fate of federal solar investment tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress renews them. The moratorium, combined with an end to tax credits, would deal a double blow to solar power.