Public lands shine bright as possible energy source.The Bush Administration announced its Solar Energy solar energy, any form of energy radiated by the sun, including light, radio waves, and X rays, although the term usually refers to the visible light of the sun. Development Policy at the Solar Power 2004 Conference in late October. The policy will establish a framework for land managers to use right-of-way on public lands for solar energy development projects administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM BLM n abbr (US) (= Bureau of Land Management) → les domaines ). "This is a way for the BLM to be proactive in responding to changes in solar technology while protecting the environment," said Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management Rebecca Watson. More than 261 million acres of land, primarily in the West, are managed by the BLM. Unlike parks and wildlife refuges, BLM-managed lands are multi-use, including fossil fuel fossil fuel: see energy, sources of; fuel. fossil fuel Any of a class of materials of biologic origin occurring within the Earth's crust that can be used as a source of energy. Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. and renewable energy development Renewable energy development covers the advancement, capacity growth, and use of renewable energy sources. Modern interest in renewable energy development is linked to concerns about exhaustion of fossil fuels and environmental, social and political risks of extensive use of fossil . A 2003 report by the BLM and the U.S. Department of Energy assessed the potential for renewable energy Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity to biomass and biofuels for transportation. resources on public lands managed by the BLM in 11 Western states. The report identified areas in Arizona, Southern California, Nevada and New Mexico as the most promising for solar energy development on public lands. Parts of Texas, Utah and Colorado also have been outlined as part of a total of 25 potential solar energy development sites. Commercial solar energy developers will also qualify to use right-of-way in these areas, once they get approval. The BLM Solar Energy Development Land Authorization Policy can be found at www.blm.gov/nhp/efoia/wo/fy05/im2005-006.htm. |
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