The Bureau of Land Management Solar Energy Study Areas (SESAs) are almost always quiet, with few signs of life other than windblown plants sparsely distributed across flat and largely featureless lands, and no sound except for the wind rustling brittle branches. During daylight hours, the sun beats down relentlessly. An occasional lizard is seen racing across the desert floor. Droppings from coyotes, rabbits and other small mammals are sometimes visible, and red-tailed hawks or turkey vultures circle infrequently overhead, searching the stark, sparse terrain for prey or carrion.

Exciting new developments are advancing our policy goal of re-using contaminated idle brownfield sites to support new renewable energy sources. As we have argued in previous posts, using contaminated lands for renewable energy development means less pressure to develop uncontaminated natural areas and open space, and also means less need for new transmission lines and rights-of-way. It is a win-win for lands, communities, and advocates of a clean energy future.