Some Refreshing Common Sense! BLM Removes Solar Roadblock

Well ask and you shall receive I guess…

We’ve all been calling on the BLM to stop being an Energy Delayer and lift a moratorium that locked up the vast reserves of solar energy located on federal lands. Today, the BLM announced that they would lift the planned twenty-two month moratorium on land it stewards in six southwest states rich in solar energy. The BLM had claimed that an extensive environmental impact review was necessary before solar development on federal lands could move forward and called for the moratorium on May 29th.

Today’s refreshingly smart move from the federal government clears the way for over 130 solar energy development projects already submitted to the BLM to move forward and opens up the possibility of further development of this untapped and vast American energy resource.

“We heard the concerns expressed during the scoping period about waiting to consider new applications,” BLM Director James Caswell said in a statement, “and we are taking action. By continuing to accept and process new applications for solar energy projects, we will aggressively help meet growing interest in renewable energy sources, while ensuring environmental protections.”

I’d love to think my blogging had something to do with this, but there were plenty of voices calling on the BML to end it’s dangerously crazy obstruction of new clean energy sources. Among those calling for an end to the insane moratorium on solar development was Senate Majority Leader and solar-rich Nevada’s senator, Harry Reid (yeah he’s been busy!) who I imagine might be slightly more influential than this blogger…

Either way, it’s clear that as the price of oil continues to rise, buoying inflation and economic insecurity along with it, the time is now to tap our vast reserves of abundant renewable energy and develop the clean and cheap new American energy sources that will power the 21st Century.

So wether it’s the Bush Administration, Congressional demogauges or NIMBY enviros, we can’t afford to let Energy Delayers stand in the way of a new American energy future.

About Jesse

Jesse is an energy and climate policy analyst, activist and blogger. He is currently the director of energy and climate policy at the Breakthrough Institute where he helps develop and advance new energy solutions to power America's future, secure our energy freedom, and halt global warming. Jesse joined the Breakthrough team in June 2008 to co-direct the Breakthrough Generation Summer Fellows Program. Before joining the Breakthrough Institute, Jesse spent two years as a Research and Policy Associate at the Renewable Northwest Project where he worked to advance the development of the Pacific Northwest's abundant renewable energy potential. While at RNP, he helped pass two statewide renewable energy standards (in WA and OR) and block plans to build 800 MW of new coal plants. In the past, Jesse has worked as a researcher and software developer with the Department of Physics at the University of Oregon, where he focused on alternative vehicles and fuels, and as a teacher's assistant in energy studies courses at the university. Jesse has a history of grassroots climate and energy activism and co-founded the Cascade Climate Network, the Northwest's largest network of youth working to tackle the climate crisis and build a sustainable, just, and prosperous future. An active blogger since 2005, Jesse is the founder and blogmaster of the site, WattHead - Energy News and Commentary. He currently writes at several sites throughout the blogosphere, including ItsGettingHotInHere.org, Cleanergy.org, DailyKos, Scitizen.com and The Energy Collective. Jesse's writing has also been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and Baltimore Sun. Jesse is a graduate of the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon (magna cum laude), where he completed an interdisciplinary course of study in computer science, philosophy, liberal arts, political science & energy studies. In fulfillment of his honors degree, Jesse completed an undergraduate honors thesis entitled, On the Road to Replacing Oil - A Well-to-Wheels Study Exploring Alternative Transportation Fuels and Energy Sources. Jesse currently lives in Berkeley, California.

4 Responses to “Some Refreshing Common Sense! BLM Removes Solar Roadblock”

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1 Meghan T. Jul 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 pm

But how do we know this won’t just be another example of the BLM/White House saying one thing but doing another? If they lift the moratorium but continue to process the applications at a sluggish pace, it’s won’t help much either.
2 Meghan T. Jul 2nd, 2008 at 10:49 pm

But how do we know this won’t just be another example of the BLM/White House saying one thing and doing another? If they lift the moratorium but process the applications at a sluggish pace it won’t be much of an improvement.

1 What do we stand for? « kai blogsworth Trackback on Jul 9th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
2 What Do We Stand For? « It’s Getting Hot In Here Trackback on Jul 13th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

It’s Getting Hot In Here