BLM seeks comment on use of public land for large solar-energy projects - Houston Business Journal:

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The land management agency that 24 large tractsd of federal land in theWest — including nearlgy 21,000 acres in Colorado’s San Luis Valley — would be studied for their solar power Other states involved are California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New The goal is to speed project permitting for utility-scale solar power projects. The 24 tractzs — known as Solar Energy Study totaling 670,000 acres — will be evaluated for their environmental and resource suitabilityfor large-scale solar energy production.
In Colorado, the threew areas in the San Luis Valley that will be part of the studu could generate upto 4,182 megawatts of solarf power if fully developed, according to the , which oversees BLM. Areaw deemed suitable for large solar power projectsa would be available for companies to build installations with a capacitg of 10 megawattsor more. Companies proposing projects in theser areas would be eligible for fasterpermit processing, the department The land in the Solard Energy Study Areas will be looked at as part of an existinf solar-power environmental impact study the department is conducting in six Western states.
An in-depth environmental revieew is being paid for with moneyh from the American Reinvestment andRecovery Act, the announcementt said. BLM said last month it has received 158 applicationw for solar power projects on federal land inthe West. In Colorado, BLM is seekingv comment on potential solar development of lands in the DeTilla Gulch, Los Mogotews East, Antonito Southeast, and Fourmile East areas of southernj Colorado. BLM manages 256 million acres of federalpublixc land, including more than 8 million in Colorado. in PDF The public comment period endsJuly 30.