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| Photovoltaic panels used to collect solar energy. |
California is generously endowed with sunshine - a naturally occurring energy source holding tremendous promise for helping meet the State's growing energy needs. The California Desert region holds some of the highest concentrations of solar energy in the United States.
California continues to be a pioneer in this area, as demonstrated by its 2006 approval of the California Solar Initiatives to provide incentives for small-scale solar development.
On public lands, solar development for large-scale electricity projects is just beginning, but the future looks bright. In late 2010, the BLM approved six of the first utility-scale solar energy projects on public lands. The BLM approved more projects in 2011, and continues to process applications, primarily in the California Desert. All will be carefully considered through detailed environmental reviews with full public involvement. More information is available from the California Desert District.
Proposals are underway for a variety of solar technologies. These can be generally described as follows:
- Photovoltaic technology uses solar cells packaged together in large, mirror-like arrays to convert sunlight directly into electricity.
- Parabolic trough technology uses rows of parabolic mirrors with an absorber tube to concentrate energy into a thermal power plant.
- Power tower technology uses a central tower (300-450 feet in height) with a field of mirrors to concentrate energy into a thermal power plant.
The BLM and Department of Energy have teamed up to analyze solar energy development in the West through the Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. The agencies have have identified 17 Solar Energy Zones, including two in California, in which to assess the potential for solar energy development. A draft of the Solar Energy Development PEIS was released in December 2010, and a supplemental analysis was published in October 2011. The public comment period on the supplemental review ended January 27, 2012.
Additional Information on solar projects is available from the California Energy Commission Website: http://www.energy.ca.gov/siting/solar/index.html
A solar technology using a central power tower in the middle of a circle of mirrors.
