2012 Renewable Energy Priority Projects
The Bureau of Land Management continues its work on environmentally responsible development of utility-scale renewable energy projects on public lands as part of the Administration's efforts to diversify the Nation's energy portfolio.
In 2012, the BLM will be giving priority status to 17 projects (9 solar, 6 wind, and 2 geothermal) representing about 7,000 MW. BLM developed this priority list in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service, with an emphasis on early consultation. The 2012 priority projects were selected based on a variety of criteria, including progress of the necessary public participation and environmental analysis under NEPA and applicable state environmental laws. BLM also used the screening criteria for priority solar and wind projects, developed through BLM policy memoranda issued in February 2011, to assist in evaluating and prioritizing the projects on this list.
The table below indicates the locations and other details regarding the BLM's priority renewable energy projects for 2012. Links are given to related BLM and state web pages, as well as Federal Register notices.
Related link:
DEIS = Draft EIS | FONSI = Finding of No Significant Impact |
EA = Environmental Assessment | NOI = Notice of Intent |
EIS = Environmental Impact Statement | ROD = Record of Decision |
Solar Energy Projects
State | Project Name [Applicant] (Location) | Technology | Potential Output (MW) a | BLM Acreage | Status |
AZ | Quartzsite Solar Energy [Solar Reserve] | Power Tower | 100 | 1,500 | NOI published 1/14/2010 Draft EIS published 11/10/2011 |
CA | McCoy Solar [NextEra] | PV | 750 | 7,754 | NOI published 8/29/2011 Draft EIS published 5/25/2012 |
CA | Desert Harvest [enXco] | PV | 100 | 930 | NOI published 9/15/2011 Draft EIS published 4/13/2012 |
CA | Calico Solar Redesign [K Power] | PV | -- b | 4,613 | NOI published 10/25/2011 |
CA | Ocotillo Sol [San Diego Gas & Electric] | PV | 14 | 115 | NOI Published 7/17/2011 Draft EIS published 4/20/2012 |
CA | Mount Signal Solar Farm #1 [82LV 8ME, LLC] | PV | 600 | | EA Pending |
NV | Amargosa North Solar [Pacific Solar Investments ] | PV | 150 | 7,500 | NOI published 12/14/2009 Draft EIS pending |
NV | Silver State South [First Solar] | PV | 350 | 1,400 | NOI published 9/1/2011 Draft EIS pending |
NV | Moapa Solar Project [K Road Power] (Clark County) | PV | 350 | See note d below | NOI published 2/4/2011 Draft EIS published 11/25/2011 Final EIS published 3/16/2012 ROD signed 6/21/2012 |
a Potential output may change depending on the analysis and review of each project.
b The Calico solar project was previously approved in 2010, but the project has been redesigned with solar PV technology and will require additional BLM approval. The 664-MW capacity for this project is not counted as new MW capacity in the total MWs for the 2012 Priority projects.
c Projects on private land: denotes "connected action" projects that will require BLM authorizations for off-site faciliites (transmission, access, etc.).
d 2,000 acres of Tribal land, with about 12 acres of BLM-managed public land for the associated 500-kv transmission line.
Wind Energy Projects
State | Project Name [Applicant] (County) | Potential Output (MW) a | BLM Acreage | Status |
AZ | Mohave County Wind Farm [BP Wind] | 500 | 31,338 | NOI published 7/26/2010 Draft EIS published 5/4/2012 |
CA | Walker Ridge Wind [AltaGas] | 70 | 7,882 | NOI published 8/13/2010 Draft EIS pending |
NV | Searchlight Wind [Duke Energy] | 200 | 24,382 | NOI published 12/16/2008 Draft EIS published 1/20/2012 |
WY | Sand Hills Ranch [Shell Wind Energy] | 50
| 3,101 | Project schedule delayed beyond 2012. Final EA pending action by applicant. |
WY | Choke Cherry/Sierra Madre [Power Co. of WY] | 3,000 | 107,105 | Draft EIS released 7/22/2011 Final EIS pending |
WY | White Mountain [Teton Wind LLC] | 360 | 2,461 | EA FONSI 8/15/2011 |
a Potential output may change depending on the analysis and review of each project.
Geothermal Energy Projects
State | Project Name [Applicant] (County) | Potential Output (MW) a | BLM Acreage | Status |
CA | Casa Diablo [Mammoth Pacific] | 33 | | NOI published 3/25/2011 |
NV | New York Canyon [Terragen] | 62 | 15,135 | EA pending |
a Potential output may change depending on the analysis and review of each project.