renewable energy and public lands. wind energy is a row action wind energy all regulations related...
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RENEWABLE ENERGY AND PUBLIC LANDS
WIND ENERGY IS A ROW ACTION
WIND ENERGY
ALL REGULATIONS RELATED TO FLPMA, NEPA, ESA, MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT, ANTIQUITIES ACT APPLY
SOLAR ENERGY
ALSO A ROW ACTION
MULTIPLE USE TO SINGLE USE
ALL REGULATIONS RELATED TO FLPMA, NEPA, ESA, MBTA, ANTIQUITIES ACT APPLY
Basics for ROW Processing
WIND1.First in Time-First in Line policy for overlapping applications2.Testing- requires application for testing (MET Towers [3 years])
May require NEPA, ESA, other clearances3.Development- ROW application, Plan of Development within 90 days, ROW issued for 30 years subject to renewal
SOLAR1.Submit Application2.Guidance/Policy- Plan of Development within 90 days3.ROW issued for 30 years subject to renewal
CHALLENGES
1. FED/STATE/PRIVATE RENEWABLE ENERGY APPLICATIONS – NO COORDINATION
2. INSUFFICIENT OR NO TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE IN WIND APPLICATION AREAS
3. SOLAR PROJECTS WILL RESULT IN MULTIPLE USE TO SINGLE USE LANDS
4. SOME SOLAR PROJECTS MAY REQUIRE VERY LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER. ie. 6 TO 13 AC. FT./ YR / MW (325,000 X 6 = 1,950,000 x 5mw = 9,750,000 gallons / yr.
solar trough and power tower are high water user typessolar dish and photovoltaic are low water users types
6. EXISTING POWERLINE ROW’S MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT ie. EXPAND WIDTH OF CORRIDORS TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF LARGER LINES WHILE MAINTAINING USE OF EXISTING LINES
MEETING THE CHALLENGE
BLM HAS COMPLETED NATIONAL PROGRAMMATIC EIS’s FOR WIND, GEOTHERMAL AND ENERGY CORRIDORS
CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE NATIONAL SOLAR EIS
DEVELOPING A STRATEGY FOR A STATEWIDE RENEWABLE ENERGY EIS
THE GOAL IS TO AVOID A GOLD RUSH MENTALITY AND DEVELOP A PROCESS
THAT ADDRESSES ALL CONCERNS
BLM NEW MEXICO RENEWABLE RESOURCE NEPA PROCESS
OBJECTIVES
AMEND EXISTING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS
TRY TO LIMIT OR REDUCE THE IMPACTS ON PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES AND NATURAL RESOURCES
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL
FOCUS DEVELOPMENT INTO SPECIFIC AREAS INSTEAD OF WIDESPREAD DEVELOPMENT
WIND ENERGY COULD ACCOMMODATE MANY MULTIPLE USES
TRY TO LIMIT SOLAR DEVELOPMENT TO LOW POTENTIAL LANDS
SOLAR DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC LAND GRAZING
PROCESS
1.COMPANY SUBMITS APPLICATION
2.BLM NOTIFIES PERMITTEE ASAP A. On site visit with company/permittee/BLM
3.COMPANY MUST HAVE A PERFECTED APPLICATION PRIOR TO INITIATION OF NEPA
A. Plan of OperationsB. Water rights secured (if needed and depending on facility)C. All required studies and analysesD. Cost Reimbursable Agreement in place
4. ONCE THE APPLICATION IS PERFECTED THE 2 YEAR PERMITTEE NOTIFICATION OCCURS
2 YEAR PERMITTEE NOTIFICATION PROCESS
1.BEGINS ONCE THE APPLICATION IS PERFECTED AND NEPA STARTS
2.ONCE A DECISION, THRU NEPA, IS MADE PERMITTEE CAN PROTEST AND APPEAL THE DECISION
3.PRIOT TO END OF 2 YEAR NOTIFICATION PERMITTEE AND COMPANY MAY
a. Agree to negotiated settlementb. Develop mitigationc. If settlement or mitigation occurs, permittee will be asked to
sign a waiverd. Compensation from company would include value of range
improvements.