DOI/DOE report evaluates renewable energy resources on public land
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| The Bureau of Land Management used data gathered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to compile the report, "Assessing the Potential for Renewable Energy on Public Lands". |
A joint study issued by the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management could open the way for increased availability and diversity in the nation's energy portfolio.
Released in February, Assessing the Potential for Renewable Energy on Public Lands provides BLM with a road map for developing renewable energy resources on public lands. The report, said Gary Schmitz, NREL spokesman, represents the first accurate portrayal of renewable energy resources on public land. "It confirms that a sizable and impressive array of renewable energy resources exists all across our Federal lands," he stated.
Mike Kirby, associate director of the National Science and Technology Center, concurs. "Before the study, we knew that the wind blew and the sun shone; we knew from Tehachapi [wind resource area] that successful development was possible," he explained. "The assessment gives BLM and the renewable energy industry a preliminary profile of the sites with the most potential."
Renewable energy industry welcomes assessment
According to the report, much of the thousands of acres under BLM's management could host wind, solar, geothermal and biomass power projects.
Twenty BLM planning units in seven western states have high potential for power production from three or more renewable energy sources.
Sixty-three BLM planning units in 11 western states have high potential for power production from one or more renewable energy sources.
Wind energy developers in particular are eager to put the findings into action. "In the last year, BLM received 71 applications for permits to do meteorological studies. The previous year, there were only two requests," recalled Kirby. "The industry were submitting requests even while the report was still in the draft stages."
BLM prepared for the enthusiastic response by developing a new policy to process wind applications more quickly, and by training field personnel. "If we can move applications through the approval process in a timely manner —or faster— there will be more opportunity and production," said Kirby.
Wind isn't the only form of renewable energy getting a boost from the assessment. The study found 35 sites that have high potential for near-term geothermal development, with 18 rating high priority. "We're seeing a renewed interest in geothermal since the report," Kirby stated. "Over the last 10 years, BLM received a total of about 300 applications for geothermal exploration. Last year, we received 53, and we are on track to get as many in '03."
BLM planning aided by NREL's research
NREL and BLM teamed up for the assessment under a directive from the President's National Energy Policy report dated May 2001. At the same time, BLM was updating land use planning. For the most part, existing plans didn't address renewable energy development. With the directive, in the National Energy Policy and the ongoing planning updates, BLM had an opportunity to determine which of its planning units should focus on renewables.
The pairing had the effect of speeding up the planning process, Kirby observed. "When we saw the capabilities, the talent and the amount of existing research at NREL, we knew we had found a gold mine."
"This was an excellent example of how Federal agencies can work together on a common goal," agreed Schmitz.
Working teams comprising representatives from both agencies, industry experts, environmentalists and technicians analyzed Geographic Information System data to identify the units with the highest potential for development. NREL conducts on-going research assessing and mapping renewable energy resources worldwide. "We provide technical assistance and information to states, localities, even the United Nations, to help formulate environmental and energy policy," Schmitz explained, "so we are constantly updating our inventory data."
That wealth of research will continue to refine BLM's land management plan, and be used for a similar study of Alaska, which was not covered in the first reports. The assessment is also being used to support a proposed programmatic environmental impact statement that could further speed up development projects. "A programmatic EIS can cover up to 98 percent of the general issues," said Kirby. "Once that is written, a site-specific environmental assessment is usually enough to fulfill NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) requirements. It saves everybody time and money."
Kirby believes that other Federal agencies, such as the Department of Defense, Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, would be good candidates for land evaluation. "The U.S. Forest Service has expressed interest in getting a study done," he added.
The goal, he concluded, is to make renewable resources available for development wherever it is environmentally sane to do so. Working with NREL has given BLM a great tool to accomplish that.
