It’s great that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has been focusing a lot of attention on solar and wind development on public lands, even to the point that the DOI’s web site is sporting images of wind turbines and solar panels. This attention to renewable energy is very welcome to those of us who work closely with government agencies to protect wild places from the impacts of drilling and climate change, but there are a couple critical pieces of the renewable energy puzzle that we need to make sure the Interior Department and its Bureau of Land Management focus on.
One of the great challenges facing our nation today is our transition to clean, green renewable energy and away from dirty fossil fuels. In California, we are seeing promising signs of this progress with two solar projects approved today by the federal government.
An AP investigation at the beginning of September found that speculation—the assumption of business risk in hopes of making profits—in applications for solar development on public lands is rampant, and has greatly contributed to the BLM’s inability to get solar projects built. In fact, the investigation found that a Goldman Sachs subsidiary has submitted applications for half of the land in Nevada for which applications have b
There aren’t many times that a car commercial makes you reach for the tissue box. Most feature professional drivers on closed courses, speeding through turns at speeds that look both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
Recently a group of conservationists, wind developers, Native American tribes, and state environmental officials sent a list of recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior on how best to avoid and minimize wind energy impacts on wildlife habitats. Now that new bills are emerging in Congress that address solar and wind generation on public lands, these recommendations can help sha
Recently a group of conservationists, wind developers, Native American tribes, and state environmental officials sent a list of recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior on how best to avoid and minimize wind energy impacts on wildlife habitats. Now that new bills are emerging in Congress that address solar and wind generation on public lands, these recommendations can help sha
I don’t often turn to stand-up comics for insight on matters of national energy policy, but since all other attempts to stop the oil gushing in the Gulf of Mexico have failed, it probably wouldn’t hurt. I ran across a quote from Robin Williams the other day: “What is right is what’s left when you’ve done everything else wrong.” When it comes to developing the abundant wind and solar resources on America’s public lands, we need to take stock of how poorly we’ve done with other forms of energy.
The second annual Solar Day takes places this Saturday, and beyond offering a sweepstakes to win $,5,000 off the installation of solar panels, this international day has an important message about solar energy. Solar Day will include events nationwide to recognize the importance of solar energy and sustainability.
The Wilderness Society has been working hard to ensure that renewable energy facilities are only built on lands that are free from wildlife, habitat, and other conflicts. Part of this work is identifying “brownfields” — former trade and industry centers that have since fallen into disrepair — that could have solar, wind, or geothermal facilities sited on them. Siting renewable energy on brownfields has excellent effects on lands, communities, and our country’s clean energy prospects.
