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This Web site is the online center for public information and involvement in the Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Solar Energy Development PEIS).
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Scoping Comments and Meeting Transcripts Public comments received during the scoping phase, including individual letters, comments received electronically, and oral comments presented at scoping meetings, are now available on this Web site, under Search Scoping Comments. Transcripts of the scoping meetings held in five Western states in June and July 2008 are also available on the Documents and Public Meetings pages.
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BLM to Continue Accepting Solar Energy Applications In response to public interest in solar energy development, the Bureau of Land Management is announcing that it plans to continue accepting applications for future potential solar development on the public lands. For more information, see the BLM press release BLM to Continue Accepting Solar Energy Applications
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Public Participation
Public participation in the Solar Energy Development PEIS is important. This Web site provides information and services to help you participate in the PEIS process.
About the EIS
EIS purpose, scope, and schedule.
Getting Involved
How to participate in the PEIS process; public meetings schedule and information; and how public comments are used in the PEIS process.
Solar Energy Resources Guide
Utility-scale solar energy and electric transmission basics, environmental issues, maps, and links to related resources on the World Wide Web.
EIS Documents
EIS-related documents for downloading or online browsing.
Other Resources
Other resources include a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), news updates, and e-mail notices of important events.
Public Scoping Meetings
Public scoping meetings for the Solar Energy Development PEIS were held in eleven cities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah in June and July 2008. Dates and locations for the public scoping meetings are available on the Public Scoping Meetings page.
Background Information
In response to direction from Congress under Title II, Section 211 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as well as Executive Order 13212, Actions to Expedite Energy-Related Projects, the Agencies are evaluating whether environmentally responsible utility-scale solar energy projects can be facilitated through developing and implementing agency-specific programs that would establish environmental policies and mitigation strategies for solar energy development. Utility-scale solar energy projects generate electricity that is distributed to consumers through the electric power transmission grid.
The BLM has received a large number of utility-scale solar energy project proposals for BLM-administered lands, mainly in Arizona, California, and Nevada. It currently processes solar energy right-of-way applications for lands under its Solar Energy Development Policy (Instruction Memorandum No. 2007-097), which, among other objectives, establishes requirements for solar energy project environmental review. The EERE Solar Energy Technologies Program currently addresses environmental concerns for projects it sponsors through grants on a case-by-case basis.
For additional background information, see the Notice of Intent for the Solar Energy Development PEIS, the BLM press release announcing the PEIS, and the Frequently Asked Questions page.
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