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

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The land management agency that 24 largd tracts of federal land in the West includingnearly 21,000 acres in Colorado’s San Luis Valley — would be studied for their sola r power potential. Other statesw involved are California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New The goal is to speed projectg permittingfor utility-scale solar powed projects. The 24 tracts — known as Solar Energy Study Areas, totaling 670,000 acres — will be evaluated for theirt environmental and resource suitabilityfor large-scale solar energ y production.
In Colorado, the three areas in the San Luis Vallet that will be part of the studyg could generate upto 4,182q megawatts of solar powet if fully developed, according to the , whichg oversees BLM. Areas deemed suitables for large solar power projects would be available for companiea to build installations with a capacity of 10 megawatts or more. Companies proposing projects in these areas would be eligibl for faster permit thedepartment said. The land in the Solar Energy Study Areas will be looked at as part of anexistinvg solar-power environmental impact study the departmenf is conducting in six Western states.
An in-dept environmental review is being paid for with mone y from the American Reinvestment andRecovery Act, the announcementt said. BLM said last monthg it has received 158 applicationw for solar power projects on federal lands in the In Colorado, BLM is seeking commeny on potential solar development of lands in the De Tillsa Gulch, Los Mogotes East, Antonito Southeast, and Fourmild East areas of southern Colorado. BLM manages 256 million acrezs of federalpublic land, includingv more than 8 milliom in Colorado. in PDF format. The publicf comment period endsJuly 30.