National Solar Energy Plan Close to Completion, Conservation Groups Support It

[jpak]

http://cleantechnica.com/2012/01/31/national-solar-energy-plan-close-to-completion-conservation-groups-support-it/

On the heels of President Obama’s State of the Union remarks to expand clean energy development, the Interior Department is moving to finalize the nation’s first solar energy program for public lands with the closing of the public comment period today. Over the past 90 days, the Bureau of Land Management has been seeking input on the Supplemental Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SPEIS) for solar development on public lands in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.

The solar plan has garnered more than 100,000 comments in the past two years from stakeholders across the country advocating for balanced, guided development that would minimize potential impacts on wildlife and sensitive lands, and reduce uncertainty in permitting. Solar companies, major trade associations, utilities and conservation groups also submitted a joint letter to Interior with recommendations to help shape a successful solar program.

Following are statements from conservation groups and other stakeholders in support of guided solar development:

“It’s time to kick our addiction to polluting fuels and create new jobs by increasing clean sources of energy,” said Johanna Wald, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Interior’s intention to guide development to thoughtfully designated ‘solar energy zones’ will help ensure the success of the solar industry and our nation’s quick transition to a clean energy economy while protecting irreplaceable lands and wildlife. Reaching that balance is a tall order but Interior has provided strong leadership demonstrating that a comprehensive final solar program can be achieved.”

Source: Clean Technica (http://s.tt/15tJL)

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[julian09]

1. Seems solar is only talk, Obama has been talking solar jobs since 2008, where are they?

Since Solyndra he has been quiet, too bad he didn't concentrate on end market sooner, than building overcapacity in panels.

[drm604]

3. You've been taken in by a right-wing talking point.

The money lent to Solyndra is 1.3% of the loans backed by the Energy Department. None of the others have failed. So, while Solyndra failed, 98.7% have not failed. Does anyone seriously expect a 100% success rate?

Five Myths About the Solyndra Collapse
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/five-myths-about-the-solyndra-collapse/2011/09/14/gIQAfkyvRK_blog.html

[txlibdem]

2. This is what the nation needs: a workable plan with everybody having had input

I am glad to see the environmental groups taking part in the planning stages, minimizing the impact to wildlife is important so we can get major solar projects off the ground without causing damage that solar power can save us from.

“It’s time to kick our addiction to polluting fuels and create new jobs by increasing clean sources of energy,”