2011 Renewable Energy Priority Projects

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT



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2011 Renewable Energy Priority Projects

Last Updated: January 27, 2011.

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. Renewable energy projects that are under construction by the end of 2011 (or meet safe harbor provisions) may be eligible for the Department of Treasury’s 1603 grant program.

In 2011, the BLM has given priority status to 18 projects (9 solar, 4 wind, and 5 geothermal) representing about 4,279 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 2011 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 2011. Links are given to related BLM and state web pages, as well as Federal Register notices. For a listing of projects approved to date, select this link.

EA = Environmental Assessment DEIS = Draft EIS EIS = Environmental Impact Statement
NOI = Notice of Intent ROD = Record of Decision ROW = Right-of-Way

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Solar Energy Projects

State
Project Name
[Applicant]
(Location)
Technology
Potential Output (MW)*
BLM Acreage⁺
Estimated Total Jobs
Status
Information
Products
AZ
Sonoran Solar Project
[NextEra Energy Resources, LLC]
(Maricopa County)
Parabolic trough
300
4,000
374
APPROVED

NOI published 7/8/09.
Draft EIS published 4/19/10.
Final EIS published 10/21/11.
Record of Decision (ROD) published 12/20/11.
Fact Sheet
Map
Draft EIS
Final EIS
ROD
CA
Desert Sunlight Solar Farm
[First Solar Development, Inc.]
(Riverside County)
Thin film PV
550
4,165
645
APPROVED

NOI published 1/13/10.
Draft EIS published 8/27/10.
Final EIS published 4/15/11.
Record of Decision (ROD) published 8/10/11.
Fact Sheet
Map
NOI
Draft EIS
Final EIS
ROD
CA
Palen Solar Project
[Solar Millennium, LLC
(Riverside County)
Parabolic trough
484
3,119
1,145
NOI published 11/28/09.
Draft EIS published 4/7/10.
Final EIS published 5/13/11.
Decision pending
Draft EIS
Final EIS
CA
Rice Solar Energy
[Rice Solar Energy, LLC]
(Riverside County)
Power tower
150
+
500
APPROVED

NOI published 3/29/09.
Draft EIS published 10/27/10.
Final EIS published 6/10/11.
Record of Decision (ROD) published 12/08/11
Fact Sheet
Map
ROD
CA
Abengoa Mojave Solar
[Mojave Solar]
(Riverside County)
Parabolic trough
250
+
890
APPROVED

Record of Decision (ROD) published 7/11/11.
Fact Sheet
Map
ROD
ROW Grant
CA
C Solar West
[LightSource Renewables]
(Imperial County)
Thin film PV
250
+
290
APPROVED

Record of Decision (ROD) published 8/23/11.
Fact Sheet
Regional Map
Local Map
ROD
CA
C Solar South
[LightSource Renewables]
(Imperial County)
Thin film PV
200
+
290
APPROVED

Draft EA prepared Dec. 2010.
Record of Decision (ROD) published 7/14/11.
Fact Sheet
Map
CA
Centinela Solar Energy Project
[Centinela Solar Energy, LLC]
(Imperial County)
Thin film PV
275
+
367
APPROVED

EA completed.
Record of Decision (ROD) published 12/28/11.
Fact Sheet
Map
EA
ROD
NV
Moapa Solar Project
[K Road Power]
(Clark County)
PV
350
**
NOI published 2/4/11.
Draft EIS published 11/25/11.
Identified as 2012 Priority Project.
NOI
Draft EIS

* Potential output may change depending on the analysis and review of each project.
⁺Projects on private land: denotes "connected action" projects that will require BLM authorizations for off-site faciliites (transmission, access, etc.).
** 2,000 acres of Tribal land

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Wind Energy Projects

State Project Name
[Applicant]
(County)
Potential Output (MW)*
BLM Acreage⁺
Estimated Peak Jobs
Status
Information
Products
CA Ocotillo Express
[Pattern Energy Group LP]
(Imperial County)
550
14,961
230
NOI published 12/13/10.
Draft EIS published 7/8/11.
Pending Tribal consultation
NOI
Draft EIS
CA Tule Wind
[Iberdrola-Pacific Wind Development]
(San Diego County)
186
12,133
+
337
APPROVED

NOI published 12/29/09.
Draft EIS published 12/23/10.
Final EIS published 12/23/10.
Record of Decision (ROD) published 12/20/11.
Fact Sheet
Map
Draft EIS
Final EIS
ROD

OR
West Butte Wind
[West Butte Wind Power]
(Crook County, Deschutes County)
104
⁺
415
APPROVED

NOI published 1/19/10.
Draft EIS published 4/2/10.
Final EIS published 10/1/10.
Record of Decision (ROD) published 7/14/11.
Fact Sheet
Map
NOI
Draft EIS
Final EIS
OR Echanis Wind / North Steens Transmission
[Echanis, LLC / Harney Electric Cooperative]
(Harney County)
104
⁺
235
APPROVED

NOI published 7/27/09.
Draft EIS published 7/16/10.
Final EIS published 10/21/11.
Record of Decision (ROD) published 12/28/11.
Fact Sheet
Maps
Draft EIS
Final EIS
ROD

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Geothermal Energy Projects

* Potential output may change depending on the analysis and review of each project.
+ Project on private land: denotes "connected action" project that will require BLM authorizations for off-site faciliites (transmission, access, etc.).

2011 Renewable Energy Priority Projects

Last Updated: January 27, 2011.

Solar Energy Projects

Wind Energy Projects

Geothermal Energy Projects

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