Solar Energy Development PEIS Information Center

Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS

This Web site is the online center for public information and involvement in the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement to Develop and Implement Agency-Specific Programs for Solar Energy Development (Solar Energy Development PEIS).

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Department of Energy (DOE); and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Department of the Interior (DOI), are preparing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to evaluate utility-scale solar energy development, to develop and implement Agency-specific programs that would establish environmental policies and mitigation strategies for solar energy projects, and to amend relevant BLM land use plans with the consideration of establishing a new BLM solar energy development program.

Announcements

NEW! Solar Energy Study Area Maps and Additional Public Scoping

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (the Agencies) are announcing the availability of maps that identify 24 tracts of BLM-administered land for in-depth study for solar development. The Agencies are issuing a Federal Register Notice of Availability to inform the public of the availability of the maps; to solicit public comments for consideration in identifying environmental issues, existing resource data, and industry interest with respect to the proposed study areas in particular; and to explain how BLM will address existing and future solar energy development applications on BLM-administered lands. See the BLM Press Release and Frequently Asked Questions for additional information. Additional questions and answers are available on BLM's web site.

The study area maps are available in PDF format on the Solar Energy Study Area Maps page. Public scoping comments may be submitted via the Public Comment Form. See the Getting Involved page for information and instructions on submitting public comments. The public comment period ends July 30, 2009.

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, solar energy study area maps, 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. You may also submit comments on the solar energy study areas and scope of the PEIS and provide information about issues important to you.

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. Information about these meetings is available on the Public Scoping Meetings page. No additional scoping meetings are planned at this time.

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 initiated a second scoping period to solicit public comments on tracts of BLM-administered land to receive in-depth study for solar development in the PEIS. This new action is in response to Secretarial Order No. 3285 (issued March 11, 2009 by the Secretary of the Interior), which announced a policy goal of identifying and prioritizing specific locations best suited for large-scale production of solar energy.

Concurrent with the release of maps for the solar energy study areas, the BLM is publishing a Notice of Proposed Withdrawal that segregates the solar energy study areas from sale, settlement, location, or entry under the general land laws, including the mining laws. The withdrawal allows BLM to continue processing discretionary actions, such as solar energy applications, but protects the study areas from actions initiated by third parties such as the location of new mining claims that could affect the viability of the study areas for future use as solar energy zones.

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.