Obama Approves Eight Renewable Energy Projects in Western U.S.

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Eight renewable energy projects in the western U.S. have been approved by President Barack Obama as part of an executive order, which was issued on March of 2012, for expedited permitting and reviewing procedures. These fast track projects are overseen by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and implemented by the Department of the Interior (DoI) in association with the U.S. Department of Energy because they are being developed on public lands. When completed, they could produce nearly 5,000 megawatts of energy. This would be enough electricity to power five million homes. The technology associated with the eight renewable energy projects includes photovoltaic, concentrated solar, and wind, and the remaining approvals from the DoI on at least a couple of the projects could come as early as December of this year.

The goal of the government's fast tracking is to help developers get their projects to the construction stage in a more efficient, effective and timely manner while driving more favorable outcomes for the environment and local communities in which these energy projects would benefit. For more information, see July 26, 2012 article -It's Officially Daylight for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern U.S. States.

Most of the renewable energy projects are awaiting environmental impact statements as well as record of decision from the associated agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)--when the project is sited on Indian lands or reservations. The BIA is a government agency whose mission is to "enhance the quality of life," to promote economic opportunity and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian Tribes and Alaskan Natives while promoting tribal self-governance. Many renewable energy projects are being developed partially or completely sited on lands owned or managed by American Indians and must receive the appropriate approvals to access or develop them.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a government agency whose responsibilities are to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of America's public lands for use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The BLM administers 245 million acres of land and 700 million acres of sub surface mineral rights throughout the nation and is also one of the few federal agencies that generates more revenue for the U.S. than it spends.

The largest projects seeking approvals are the multi-phased Chokecherry and Sierra Madre windfarms, which have a combined 3,000 megawatts of renewable wind power. The BLM recently completed a final environmental impact statement for the projects and is currently awaiting public comments. The two windfarms would encompass 227,630 acres on both public and private lands in Carbon County, Wyoming and would take about four to five years to construct.

The smallest project is the 100-megawatt Quartzsite Concentrated Solar project in La Paz county Arizona. The solar project site (which is on 26,273 acres) would consist of a 653-foot tower with a solar receiver, solar mirror field and a conventional steam turbine as well as a thermal energy storage system which would provide solar power to the local grid.

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