March 5, 2010
Sage Grouse Listing Warranted But "Precluded"
In response to a petition and lawsuit from various environmental and other groups the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday that the Greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act, but that such protection is precluded due to lack of resources. In other words, a backlog of species exists, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar (a past corporate lawyer) would rather increase staffing for new Renwable Energy Coordination offices across the West than hire more Fish and Wildlife Service Personnel.
This opens the way for continued development of wind energy (for example see our story on Spring Valley Wind in eastern Nevada, surrounded by active leks), and oil and gas leases. Salazar said in a news release that other species that are in greater danger.
The Department of the Interior has a new purpose lately, "Our Mission: Protecting America’s Great Outdoors and Powering Our Future" (www.doi.gov).
Secretary Salazar said: "The sage-grouse’s decline reflects the extent to which open land in the West has been developed in the last century. This development has provided important benefits, but we must find common-sense ways of protecting, restoring, and reconnecting the Western lands that are most important to the species’ survival while responsibly developing much-needed energy resources. Voluntary conservation agreements, federal financial and technical assistance and other partnership incentives can play a key role in this effort."
The Greater sage-grouse population, which includes most of the range of the species, will be placed on the candidate list for future action, meaning the species would not receive statutory protection under the ESA and states would continue to be responsible for managing the bird.
The sage grouse finding results from a lawsuit filed in 2006 by an Idaho
group, Western Watersheds Project. A federal judge in Boise, Idaho, ruled in
2007 that political pressure tainted an earlier decision not to list the
sage grouse.
Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey, whose agency manages more greater sage-grouse habitat than any other government agency, said that the BLM will today issue guidance that will expand the use of new science and mapping technologies to improve land-use planning and develop additional measures to conserve sage-grouse habitat while ensuring that energy production, recreational access and other uses of federal lands continue as appropriate. The BLM guidance also addresses a related species, the Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus), which has a more limited range, and which is in the process of being evaluated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether it also warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Center for Biological Diversity had petioned the Mono Basin sage grouse as well, a genetically unique population in eastern California and western Nevada. This too was warranted but precluded.
“Delaying protection for Mono Basin sage grouse is clearly illegal and irresponsible,” said Rob Mrowka, an ecologist at the Center in Nevada.
Center notes: "During his eight-year tenure, Bush protected a mere 62 species, for a rate of fewer than eight species per year. This compares to 522 protected under Clinton, or 65 species per year, and 231 species protected under George H.W. Bush, or 58 species per year. With only two species listed so far, the Obama administration appears to have flatlined on listing. Under the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Service can only delay protection of species if it is making expeditious progress listing other species considered a higher priority for listing."
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service page on Sage grouse.
Associated Press through Yahoo News >>here.
Center for Biological Diversity >>here.
Western Watersheds Project >>here.
March 2, 2010
Padilla Bill Update
A February 5 version of the California state bill that would help expedite solar energy came out (see below). Photovoltaic plants have been added to solar thermal power plants in the new plan, that melds with the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan being developed by California Department of Fish and Game (DFG).
The bill proposes to establish a Renewable Energy Resources Development Fee Trust Fund, that would be loaned $10 million dollars from a Renewable Resources Trust Fund so that DFG can begin purchasing mitigation land for such species as the desert tortoise before solar companies even pay into the fund with fees.
Only companies that have there application in to the California Energy Commission (for solar thermal power plants) or to DFG ( for utility-scale photovoltaic projects) by February 1, 2010 would qualify, and they must also qualify for either DOE loan guarantee or an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 grant.
The revised bill SB 34.
February 23, 2010
Padilla Bill Passes California Senate: Expediting Solar Thermal Projects
SACRAMENTO, California -- Senator Alex Padilla (D-20th district) introduced a bill that would help the overloaded California Energy Commission speed up permits for 11 large renewable energy projects to help draw more federal stimulus money. The bill lets developers of the solar thermal power plants pay the commission's costs of hiring independent consultants to review proposals. The projects are in Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The bill by Padilla, a Democrat from Los Angeles, was approved on a 33-0 vote Monday. It now goes to the Assembly.
Summary of the bill: SBX8 34 (Padilla)
(1) Existing law vests exclusive power to certify a thermal powerplant with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission). Existing law requires a person to obtain a certification from the commission prior to
commencing the construction of a thermal powerplant. This bill would require the Energy Commission to establish a process for certain applicants for certification of a solar thermal powerplant that allows the applicant to elect to pay additional fees to be used by the Energy Commission to contract with 3rd parties to assist Energy Commission staff in performing the analysis otherwise performed by staff in determining whether or not to issue a certification. The Energy Commission would retain discretion as to when this option will be offered to qualified applicants.
Basin and Range Watch comment: Would these third party consultants be publicly vetted? Would they be biased or objective? Would they be the same consultants hired by the applicants?
(2) The California Endangered Species Act (CESA) requires the Fish and Game Commission to establish a list of endangered species and a list of threatened species and requires the Department of Fish and Game to recommend, and the commission to adopt, criteria for determining if a species is endangered or threatened. CESA states that state agencies should not approve projects, as defined, that would jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of habitat essential to the continued existence of the species if there are reasonable and prudent alternatives available consistent with conserving the species or its habitat that would prevent jeopardy. CESA further declares that in the event specific economic, social, or other conditions make infeasible these alternatives, individual projects may be approved if appropriate mitigation and enhancement measures are provided.
This bill would require the department, in consultation with the Energy Commission, to develop and implement an interim strategy for mitigation measures pursuant to CESA for the construction of certain solar thermal powerplants. The bill would condition this
requirement upon a developer or owner of a proposed solar thermal powerplant agreeing to reimburse the department and the Energy Commission for all state costs associated with the development and implementation of the interim strategy. The bill would establish the Renewable Energy Resources Development Mitigation Trust Fund as a continuously appropriated fund in the State Treasury to serve, and be managed, as an optional, voluntary method for developers or owners of solar thermal powerplant projects, as defined, to deposit fees sufficient to complete mitigation and enhancement measures pursuant to the interim strategy adopted by the department and thereby meet their requirements pursuant to CESA. The bill would require that the fund be managed by the
California Wildlife Foundation or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as determined, and subject to oversight, by the department and would prohibit any expenditure from being made from the fund except as authorized by the department.
Basin and Range Watch Comments: Some of the applicants must have taken Senator Padilla to dinner, and he gave them everything they want. With this plan, the applicants just pay a modest fee and let the public and concerned groups, as well as the Department of Fish and Game, shoulder the responsibility for finding mitigation lands for desert tortoises, figuring out all the details. This is a setback for protected species.
From AroundTheCapitol.com, and BusinessWeek.com.
February 22, 2010
Imperial (Solar 2) DEIS Out - Comments Needed
^Flat-tailed horned lizard on West Mesa, near the project site.
The Bureau of Land Management released its Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Staff Assessment for the Tessera (formerly Stirling Energy Systems) Solar 2 Project (recently renamed Imperial) and Possible California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment. This opens the 90-day comment period.
The project would be similar to Tessera's Calico (Solar 1) north in the Mojave Desert east of Barstow (see our story >>here). Solar 2 in the Colorado Desert 14 miles west of El Centro in Imperial Copunty would produce 750 megawatts on approximately 6,144 acres of BLM-managed lands. Interstate 8 lies on the south.
SunCatcher 25-kilowatt solar dishes would be used, designed to automatically track the sun and collect and focus solar energy onto a power conversion unit (PCU), which generates electricity. The system consists of a 38-foot high by 40-foot wide solar concentrator in a dish structure that supports an array of curved glass mirror facets. These mirrors collect and concentrate solar energy onto the solar receiver of the PCU.
The area has many problems, being habitat for the Flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mccallii), which in November 2010 is due for a decision on whether it should be listed as Federally Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Many Tribes also have great concerns over cultural values they have on the site. Archaeology is dense here, as the area was on the shoreline of pluvial Lake Cahuilla.
The project also includes an electrical transmission line, water supply pipeline, and an access road. A new 230-kilovolt (kV) substation would be constructed in approximately the center of the project site near a main services complex that is also part of the proposal. The substation would be connected to the existing San Diego Gas and Electric Imperial Valley Substation by about a 10.3-mile long, double-circuit 230 kV transmission line.
The BLM and California Energy Commission have agreed through the MOU to conduct joint environmental review of the project in a single combined NEPA/CEQA process and
document.
The applicant has applied to the Department of Energy (DOE) for a loan guarantee under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as amended by Section 406 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5. Should the DOE decide to enter into negotiation of a possible loan guarantee with the applicant, the DOE would become a cooperating agency in developing the final EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the SES Solar Two Project
by any of the following methods:
Web site: http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solartwo/index.html.
E-mail: Cmeyer@energy.state.ca.us.
Fax: (818) 597-8001.
Mail or other delivery service: Christopher Meyer, Project Manager, Siting, Transmission and Environmental Protection Division, California Energy Commission, 1516 Ninth Street, MS-15, Sacramento, California, 95814.
Copies of the SES Solar Two Draft EIS/SA are available from the CEC
at the above address and in the BLM El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th
Street, El Centro, California, 92243.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Jim Stobaugh, BLM Project Manager, by telephone at (775) 861-6478 (775) 861-6478 ; through mail at Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 12000, Reno, Nevada 89520;
or by e-mail at Jim_Stobaugh@blm.gov.
California Energy Commission website >>here.
In the Federal Register: February 22, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 34), Notices, Page 7624-7625, wais.access.gpo.gov.
February 19, 2010
Oregon Looking at Feed-In Tariff Like Germany
Big corporations get generous subsidies for utility-scale solar power plants, why not home-owners and small bsinesses?
Story in OregonLive.com >>here.
February 10, 2010
New Giant Renewable Energy Zone on East Mesa/Chocolate Mountains Proposed by BLM
We are attemtopint to talk to Bureau of Land Management concerning the purpose and need for this new 21,300 acre energy zone on East Mesa in Imperial County, California, which is habitat for several rare species and a popular recreation area. So far BLM has been quiet about this to us. The area is apparently a geothermal hotspot, with the potential tp produce more than 600 MW, which could be used by the Chocolate Mountains Aerial Gunnery Range. This is part of a push to switch military bases to renewable energy (see IEEE Spectrum >>here).
Release Date: 02/10/10
Contacts: Stephen Razo, 951-697-5217, srazo@ca.blm.gov
News Release No. CA-CDD-10-33
BLM Initiates Environmental Review of Proposed West Chocolate Mountains Renewable Energy Project
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today published a notice of intent (NOI) to conduct an environmental review on a proposal to consider renewable energy development, including geothermal, solar, and wind, on public lands within the West Chocolate Mountains area, near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, east of Niland and northeast of El Centro, California.
The proposed project areas covers approximately 21,300 acres of BLM-managed public lands bordered by the Imperial/Riverside County line on the north, the Chocolate Mountains Aerial Bombing and Gunnery Range on the east, the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area on the south and the Imperial Valley agricultural belt on the west.
Publication of the NOI initiates a public scoping period of 30 days, ending March 12, 2010. During the scoping period, the BLM solicits public comment on issues, concerns, potential impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures that should be considered in the analysis of the proposed action. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media and the BLM Website at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html. In order to be considered in the draft environmental impact statement (EIS), all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of the draft EIS.
The principal issues identified thus far include hydrology; Native American concerns; cumulative impacts of other existing or proposed energy projects in the area; and potential impacts on cultural resources, wildlife, recreation and visual resources. The draft EIS will also address issues such as geology, geothermal resources, vegetation, threatened or endangered species, air quality, noise, transportation, human health and safety, and socioeconomics, as well as any additional issues raised by the public during the scoping process.
Public comments received will be used in the development of a draft EIS in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Written comments should be submitted to the BLM's California Desert District Office, Attn: John Dalton, Chocolate Mountains Geothermal Leasing Coordinator, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553.
For more information contact John Dalton at (951) 697-5311 or e-mail John_Dalton@ca.blm.gov, or Daniel Steward, BLM El Centro Field Office branch chief (760) 337-4400 or e-mail Daniel_Steward@ca.blm.gov.
BLM California Desert District website >>here.
January 29, 2010
<Meterological tower on desert flat near the Silurian Hills, San Bernardino County north of Baker and southeast of Death Valley National Park. Wind companies use these met towers to test winds for future wind farms.
Wind and Solar Proposals Next To Kingston Range Wilderness
Driving south through Baker yesterday we noticed two new MET towers covering a large area. Pacific Wind Development LLC wants 6,623 acres of Bureau of Land Manegement desert near the Silurian Hills, directly adjacent to Kingston Wash in the Kingston Range Wilderness.
Kingston Range Wilderness is 209,608 acres, rising to 7,323 feet. Rugged dolomite crags with pinyon-juniper and white fir forest loom over Joshua tree forest and an isoalted stand of Nolinas. Bighorn sheep and Gila monsters are found in these mountains, and the Amargosa River flows through the northwestern section.
^Parry nolinas (Nolina parryi) on slopes of the Kingston Range. This is an isolated population; most live in the Joshua Tree National Park region.
At this point, the entire desert seems claimed. If you are somewhere in the California Desert, you don't really have to wonder IF the view your looking at has wind and solar applications on it. Now it is a matter of which application you are looking at. At this point, most of the wilderness areas would just end up being islands of broken habitat surrounded by endless renewable energy sprawl under their best case scenario.
There are also two concentrated solar power plant proposals for the area and applications for solar thermal all the way up to the BLM Salt Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern (south of Dumont Dunes):
BLM Barstow Field Office: Solar Investments, Inc. as of 1/18/07 wanted a 1,000 MW solar thermal project on 10,611 acres in Silurian Valley. But due to a switch to photovoltaic technology (probably because of a lack of water), a new Plan of Development is pending.
BLM Barstow Field Office: Solar Investments VI LLC as of 1/18/07 wants 8,384 acres for 800 MW of solar thermal by Baker. The Plan of Development is under revision as of 01/09.
^Kingston Range Wilderness. Red dot is the approximate location of one of the met towers now present.
^Kingston Range.
January 28, 2010
Salazar: Fast-Tracking Transmission Lines
Not bothering to talk about any other issues such as species protection, or recreation issues, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a statement.
"For the first time ever, the Department of the Interior is exploring our deserts and plains for their vast clean energy potential. As a Department which oversees 20 percent of the nation’s lands we have huge solar potential; the public lands in the deserts of the Southwest near the great cities of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix contain an estimated 2,300 gigawatts of energy."
"We are redoubling our efforts to evaluate and approve existing applications for solar energy projects. The BLM is currently processing approximately 128 applications for utility-scale solar projects that involve around 77,000 megawatts and 1.2 million acres of public land."
"Solar and other renewable energy resources are often located in remote areas, and will require new transmission capacity to bring this clean energy to population centers. The Department has already identified and designated more than 5,000 miles of transmission corridors on federal lands. We are processing more than 30 applications for major transmission corridor right-of-ways, with 7 applications in Idaho, California and Nevada that could potentially “fast track” the permitting of over 1,000 transmission miles this year. Moreover, nine federal agencies including the Department have signed a Memorandum of Understanding committed to coordinating the expedition of siting and permitting electric transmission projects on federal lands."
"By facilitating energy transmission, reviewing current projects, and uncovering potential new sites, last year the Department made great strides towards harnessing solar power on public lands. I am proud of our achievements, and will continue to make the creation of a secure and responsible energy future a top Department priority."
We call the department the "renewable energy extinction corporation." Desert tortoises and other sensitive species on public lands beware!
Department of Interior News >>here.
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