BLM & Dept. of Energy plans Solar Energy Zone meetings

Solar Energy Zone Plan Focus of Public Meetings in Washington, DC, and Six Western States

BLYTHE, CA - Alfredo Acosta Figueroa of La Cuna de Aztlan Sacred Sites Protection Circle states, "The Quechan Tribe, La Cuna de Aztlan Sacred Sites Protection Circle, Sierra Club, CURE (California Unions for Renewable Energy) and The Western Watersheds Project, have already filed a lawsuit against the approved 6 solar power projects in Southern California and more organizations are contemplating filing suit.
   "All theses lawsuits are being filed because of the Department of Interior’s gross violations against the National Environment Policy Act, Endangered Species Act and laws that protect our Sacred Indigenous lands/sites and government to government consultation with the tribes and so on.
   "The Department of Interior has now taken a new direction in finalizing the approval of these solar projects instead of the Fast-Track to judgment to qualify for the government stimulus money. As a result, of all their opposition against the approved solar sites they will now be conducting a series of public meetings in Washington, DC and Six Western States. We highly recommend that all warriors, defenders of Mother Earth participate in one of the meetings that is convenient to you. "


WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced a schedule of public meetings to gather comments on a comprehensive environmental analysis that has identified proposed ‘solar energy zones’ on public lands in the west most suitable for environmentally sound, utility-scale solar energy production.

The detailed study, known as the Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, was compiled over the past two years as part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to create a framework for developing renewable energy in the right way and in the right places.

“Dialogue with the public is critical as we lay out the next phase of President Obama’s strategy for rapid and responsible development of renewable energy on America’s public lands,” Secretary Salazar said. “This comprehensive proposal and early planning is designed to help site solar projects in the right places and reduce conflicts and delays in developing our new energy economy.”

"By developing a smart and responsible strategy to expand the use of solar power on federal lands, we can grow our domestic solar industry and create jobs in this important sector," said Secretary Chu. "Expanding our use of renewable energy sources will help put our country on the path to a prosperous, sustainable energy future."

“The lessons learned from developing this Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and the public input obtained during this crucial comment period will help make all solar development resulting from this process ‘Smart from the Start,’” said Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey.

A Notice of Availability for the draft plan was published in the December 17, 2010 Federal Register, opening the 90-day public comment period. The Bureau of Land Management and Department of Energy will hold 13 public meetings, beginning with a February 2 session in the Nation’s Capital, to provide an overview of the document and the NEPA process and to take public comments at the following locations and times:

- Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 1:00pm:
Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown, 815 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

- Monday, February 7, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Imperial County Admin. Center, 940 W. Main Street, Suite 211, El Centro, CA 92243

- Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, 44-600 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells, CA 92210

- Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Ramada Las Vegas, 325 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89169

- Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Esmeralda County School, 270 N. Euclid Avenue, Goldfield, NV 89013

- Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Caliente Elementary School, 280 Lincoln Street, Caliente, NV 89008

- Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Hilton Sacramento Arden West, 2200 Harvard St., Sacramento, CA 95815

- Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Holiday Inn Express, 2700 Lenwood Road, Barstow, CA 92311

- Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 7:00pm: Sheraton Crescent Hotel, 2620 W. Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021

- Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Pima Community College, 4905 E. Broadway, Building C, Room 105, Tucson, AZ 85709 (LOCATION TENTATIVE)

- Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, 705 S. Telshor Boulevard, Las Cruces, NM 88011

- Monday, March 7, 2011 at 7:00pm:
San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center Education and Conference Center, 1921 Main Street, Alamosa, CO 81101

- Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites, 1575 West 200 North, Cedar City, UT 84720

- Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 7:00pm:
Hampton Inn & Suites – Airport, 307 N. Admiral Byrd Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

-The meeting site in each city will open one hour prior to the official start time of the scheduled public meeting, and will be closed after all individuals who wish to speak have been heard. Transcripts of public comments will be made.

Individuals may register to speak at a meeting in advance through the Solar PEIS project website (http://solareis.anl.gov), or may register during the hour prior to the public meeting. The public may also review maps and informational posters that will be on display. Additionally, computers for reviewing the project website or for submitting electronic comments will be available.

The Draft Solar Energy PEIS document and related maps and information are available online at the project website: http://solareis.anl.gov/. Related maps are also available at http://blm.gov/td5c. Comments on the PEIS can be submitted through the project website (preferred method of submission), or written comments can be mailed to: Solar Energy Draft Programmatic EIS, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue – EVS/240, Argonne, Illinois 60439. All comments related to the draft must be postmarked or delivered by March 17, 2011.

Article source: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/newsroom/2011/january/NR_01_14_2011.html

Native American group files suit against BLM for failure to consult

Six Utility Scale Desert Solar Projects

Get Holiday Surprise

BLYTHE, CA. La Cuna de Aztlan Sacred Sites Protection Circle, a prestigious Native American cultural protection group, filed suit Monday in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, challenging the Bureau of Land Management permitting processes related to six large solar facilities planned for the Mohave, Sonoran and Colorado deserts of Southern California, Case No.10CV2664 WQH WVG. According to Patricia Piñon Chairperson of La Cuna's Advisory Committee, the group was joined by CARE, Californians for Renewable Energy, and 6 individual Native American plaintiffs. Piñon indicates La Cuna de Aztlan Sacred Site Protection Circle has standing to sue by virtue of meeting the definition of "Indian Tribe," according to Section 106 of the National Register of Historic Places, and by virtue of an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the BLM.

According to court documents, the projects include the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Project (Brightsource Energy), the Blythe Solar Power Project (Chevron Energy Solutions and Solar Millenium, LLC), the Imperial Valley Solar Project (Tessera/NTR), Chevron Energy Solutions Lucerne Valley Solar Project, Calico Solar Project (Tessera/NTR), and the Genesis Project (Florida Power and Light subsidiary NextEra™). La Cuna founder Alfredo Figueroa states that cumulatively, the projects would grade and develop 23,842 acres of essentially pristine desert lands, designated as class "L" under the California Desert Conservation Area Plan. Class L (Limited Use) lands protect "natural, scenic, ecological, and cultural resource values. The lands are "managed to provide for generally lower-intensity, carefully controlled multiple use of resources, while ensuring that sensitive values are not significantly diminished." The complaint indicates that each of the projects was permitted with an "amendment" to the CDCA according to the Bureau of Land Management.

The suit follows the filing of the Quechan tribe's legal challenge to the Imperial Valley Solar Project which was granted an injunction by Judge Larry Burns on December 15, Civil Action No. '10CV2241 LAB CAB, United State District Court for the Southern District of California. Robert Lukefahr, CEO of Tessara Solar said at the time, "Tessera Solar is deeply disappointed with the federal court's ruling last night." Company press releases stated on December 9, 2010 (prior to Congress extending the time limits for ARRA, American Reinvestment and Recovery Act 30% project cash grants--at the end of the lame duck session--to December 30, 2011) parent company NTR (National Toll Roads of Ireland) had taken a "write down" of 96 million Euros. The Quechan suit further clouds the issues for investors. Now La Cuna de Aztlan's complaint and request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), giving time for an injunction to be considered by the court, adds another impediment for industrial development of the desert. Following La Cuna's filing, the future of 5 additional projects is in jeopardy.

According to La Cuna de Aztlan Piñon, the pressure of the ARRA "fast track" process approved by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar resulted in inadequate Environmental Impact Statements and inadequate government to government consultation with the tribes, under Section 106 of the National Register of Historic Places. Bill Powers of San Diego based Powers Engineering, a prominent energy engineer states, "So the Orwellian aspect of the government involvement in this process is that now instead of the analysis being focused on is this a cost effective project, is it a project that will minimize or eliminate environmental damage, is it a good investment strategically for this state, all of that is secondary for the race to get the permit so that the project can get a 30 percent cash grant. In this case -- that's $600 million up front per project. So the money is so big that it's now like a bull rush to the finish line."

The potential impacts are both environmental and cultural. Jim Andre, Ph.D. University of California Riverside botanist, and Director of the Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Institute states, “Rather than be smart from the start by utilizing ecologically degraded sites first, a reckless and scientifically unmerited decision has been made to instead race into our most pristine desert and obliterate some of the most botanically significant lands in California.” With over 250 projects in application in California alone, over 2 million acres of desert would be graded if all of the projects now in application were to be approved. Dr. Andre continues, "This scale of an impact has never occurred before. When you consider the importance of these (eco) systems to provide corridors for species to move as climate changes, whether its human caused change, or just the natural course of variation in climate change, you’ve really done in the entire ecosystem at that scale."

At stake also are the region's unique and invaluable cultural resources. According to the testimony of Elizabeth A. Bagwell, Ph.D., RPA and Beverly E. Bastian before the California Energy Commission, "This analysis estimates that more than 800 sites (Cultural Resource Sites--Sacred Sites) within the I-10 corridor, and 17,000 sites within the Southern California Region will be potentially destroyed. La Cuna de Aztlan Sacred Sites Protection Circle has an agreement with the BLM to work together to protect Native American sacred sites and cultural resources.

Solar Farm Meeting, Bouse, Arizona, June 22, Solar Farm

La Paz County Department of Community Development


1112 Joshua, Suite 202, Parker, Arizona 85344

(928) 669-6138 - Fax (928) 669-5503 - TDD (928) 669-8400

http://co.la-paz.az.us/

BOUSE COMMUNITY MEETING

June 22, 2010 ~  6-7 pm

Bouse Elementary School

44936 Joshua Dr ,  Bouse, AZ. 85325

Information Distribution- Major Comprehensive Plan Amendments

1. CP2010-001 – Major Comprehensive Plan Amendments- La Paz County- Security Capital, LLC. Security Capital, LLC (applicant) seeks to develop up to 1,157 acres of major manufacturing and associated industrial uses. The proposed Future Land Use Plan and text amendment will provide an appropriate land use designation for future development, construction and operation of major manufacturing and associated industrial uses within an identified Employment Center land use designation. The proposed major amendment will change the Future Land Use Map designation from Medium Density and Rural Residential to Employment Center on approximately 1,157 acres.
2. CP2010-002 – Major Comprehensive Plan Amendments- La Paz County-Next Light Renewable Power, LLC. Next Light Renewable Power, LLC (applicant) seeks to develop up to 400 acres solar farm. The proposed Future Land Use Map Amendment will clarify that a solar energy generation facility is consistent with the existing Comprehensive Plan Rural Community planning area designation. This designation will allow for consideration of a solar and wind energy production facility by the Board of Supervisors as either a future planned development or through standard zoning practices, including a potential future special use permit.

3. CP2010-003 – Major Comprehensive Plan Amendments- La Paz County Centennial Employment Center. La Paz County (applicant) seeks to allow potential solar development within the Centennial Employment Center as defined on the Future Land Use Map. The proposed text amendment will clarify that a solar energy generation facilities are consistent within the existing Comprehensive Plan Employment Center located at County Road 75E and I-10, known as the Centennial Employment Center. This designation will allow for consideration of a solar energy production facility by the Board of Supervisors as either a future planned development or through standard zoning practices, including potential future special use permits.

4. CP2010-004 – Major Comprehensive Plan Text Amendments- La Paz County. La Paz County is proposing a major amendment to add Comprehensive Plan text clarifying the process for Major and Minor text amendments, including density and intensity limits and associated thresholds used to determine the type of application required.
If you need further information, please contact the Department of Community Development at 1112 Joshua Avenue, Suite 202, Parker, AZ 85344. The telephone number is (928) 669-6138.

Solar Farm Open House June 29, 7pm Brenda, Arizona

OPEN HOUSE  ~  June 29, 2010 ~ 6-7 pm

Desert Gold RV Resort

46628 E. Highway 60 ~ Brenda, AZ

La Paz County Department of Community Development
1112 Joshua, Suite 202, Parker, Arizona 85344
(928) 669-6138 - Fax (928) 669-5503 - TDD (928) 669-8400

http://co.la-paz.az.us/

Information Distribution- Major Comprehensive Plan Amendments

1. CP2010-001 – Major Comprehensive Plan Amendment La Paz County- Security Capital, LLC. Security Capital, LLC (applicant) seeks to develop up to 1,157 acres of major manufacturing and associated industrial uses. The proposed Future Land Use Plan and text amendment will provide an appropriate land use designation for future development, construction and operation of major manufacturing and associated industrial uses within an identified Employment Center land use designation. The proposed major amendment will change the Future Land Use Map designation from Medium Density and Rural Residential to Employment Center on approximately 1,157 acres.


2. CP2010-002 – Major Comprehensive Plan Amendment La Paz County- Next Light Renewable Power, LLC. Next Light Renewable Power, LLC (applicant) seeks to develop up to 400 acres solar farm. The proposed Future Land Use Map Amendment will clarify that a solar energy generation facility is consistent with the existing Comprehensive Plan Rural Community planning area designation. This designation will allow for consideration of a solar and wind energy production facility by the Board of Supervisors as either a future planned development or through standard zoning practices, including a potential future special use permit.

3. CP2010-003 – Major Comprehensive Plan Amendment La Paz County Centennial Employment Center. La Paz County (applicant) seeks to allow potential solar development within the Centennial Employment Center as defined on the Future Land Use Map. The proposed text amendment will clarify that a solar energy generation facilities are consistent within the existing Comprehensive Plan Employment Center located at County Road 75E and I-10, known as the Centennial Employment Center. This designation will allow for consideration of a solar energy production facility by the Board of Supervisors as either a future planned development or through standard zoning practices, including potential future special use permits.

4. CP2010-004 – Major Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment La Paz County. La Paz County is proposing a major amendment to add Comprehensive Plan text clarifying the process for Major and Minor text amendments, including density and intensity limits and associated thresholds used to determine the type of application required.


If you need further information, please contact the Department of Community Development at 1112 Joshua Avenue, Suite 202, Parker, AZ 85344. The telephone number is (928) 669-6138.