IRWA Federal Agency Update- BLM

IRWA Federal Agency Update- BLM

Ray BradyBureau of Land Managementray_brady@blm.gov(202) 912-7312

Renewable Energy PriorityEnergy Policy Act of 2005• Section 211 – 10,000 MWs of non-hydro renewable energy

projects on public land by 2015President – New Energy for America• Ensure 10 percent of electricity from renewable energy by

2012 and 25 percent by 2025• “By 2035, 80 percent of America’s electricity will come from

clean energy sources.” (State of Union 1/25/11)• “Allow development of clean energy on enough public land

to power 3 million homes.” (State of Union 1/24/12)Secretary – New Energy Frontier• DOI goal - 10,000 MWs by 2012• Secretary Order (March 2009) - Development of renewable

energy is a Department priority

“Fast Track” Projects - 2010

• 9 solar projects approved – 3,661 MWs

• 1 wind project approved – 150 MWs

• 2 geothermal projects approved – 79 MWs

• Power for more than 1 million homes• Some 7,280 construction and operations

jobs• First solar projects on public lands – full

range of solar technologies• Largest solar projects in world

Coordination

• Would not have been possible without commitment of wide range of people across the Department– BLM 200+ people– NPS 30+ people– FWS 80+ people– SOL 15 people– Public Affairs 15 people

• Collaboration among more than 340 people !

“Priority” Projects – 2011/2012

• Performance Priority - Meet MW Goal– Approved 3,800 MWs in 2010– Approved 2,814 MWs in 2011– Another 6,689 MWs on 2012 list

• Collaboration – NPS & FWS• Screen for resource conflicts• “Connected Action” projects

– Support private land opportunities– Facilitates additional MW capacity

• Priority Projects for 2012– 9 solar projects– 6 wind projects– 2 geothermal projects

Project Summary

• Solar Projects• Fast Track Projects (2010) 9 projects approved• Priority Projects (2011) 7 projects approved• Priority Projects (2012) 9 projects

• Wind Projects• Fast Track Projects (2010) 1 project approved• Priority Projects (2011) 3 projects approved• Priority Projects (2012) 6 projects

• Geothermal Projects• Fast Track Projects (2010) 2 projects approved• Priority Projects (2011) 4 projects approved• Priority Projects (2012) 2 projects

SOLAR – Where We AreStatus• Draft Programmatic EIS - Dec 2010

• 24 Solar Energy Zones (677,384 Acres)• Supplemental EIS - Oct 2011

• 17 Solar Energy Zones (285,417 acres)• 16 Projects approved in 2010 and 2011 (5,646

MWs)• 81 pending development applications

Challenges• NEPA• Intensive single-use land allocation• Large land disturbance footprint• Water demand (solar thermal)• Sensitive wildlife habitat• Visual resource impacts• Military and aviation operations• Tribal consultation• Other resource impacts• Transmission availability• Litigation

Solar EIS• Draft EIS released 12/17/10• Comment Period ended 5/2/11• Supplemental EIS released 10/28/11

• Additional 90-day public comment period (some 200 comments received)

• Modify Preferred Alternative• More detailed analysis of selected SEZs (17 SEZs totaling

285,417 acres)• Variance lands (20 million acres)/Exclusion lands (78 million

acres)• Enhance transmission analysis• Authorization process inside/outside SEZs• Define competitive process (Regulations)• Process to address existing applications• Process to identify new SEZs

• Coordinate with AZ RDEP – Draft EIS released 2/17/12 (Aqua Caliente SEZ)

• Coordinate with CA DRECP• Coordinate with CA West Chocolate Mtns• Coordinate with NV Las Vegas RMP

• Final EIS - July 2012 (ROD Oct 2012)

“Smart from the Start” - Policies

IM 2010-141: Solar Energy Interim Rental Policy• Established Base Rent and MW Capacity Fee

IM 2011-003: Solar Energy Development Policy• Processing applications, diligent development, bonding,

access to recordsIM 2011-059: NEPA Compliance for Utility Scale Renewable

Energy Right-of-Way Authorizations• Clarifies NEPA policies for analyzing solar and wind projects• Guidance on Purpose and Need Statements• Range of AlternativesIM 2011-060: Solar and Wind Energy Applications – Due

Diligence• Updates guidance on due diligence requirements of

applicants• Plan of Development (POD) requirements and timeframesIM 2011-061: Solar and Wind Energy Applications – Pre-

Application and Screening• Updates guidance on BLM reviews of applications• Requires Pre-Application meetings• Review and Screening of applications (screening criteria)

Competitive Rule• Competitive process identified in Supplemental Solar

EIS• Within Solar Energy Zones (SEZs)

• Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR)• ANPR published December 29, 2011• 60-day public comment period ended February 27, 2012• Comments will assist in preparing Proposed Rule (target

August 2012)

• Scope• Competitive process for “leasing” lands (ROW lease defined by

FLPMA) within designated solar energy development areas (SEZs) and designated wind energy development areas

• Call for nominations (nomination fee)• Review of nominations (NEPA review)• Notice of competitive offer• Bonus bid competitive process• Issuance of competitive lease• Administration of competitive lease

• Approval of POD required (NEPA required)• Rental, bonding and due diligence provisions

“Building a smarter electric grid will create thousands of American

jobs and accelerate the growth of domestic clean energy industries

translating into more energy choices and cost savings for American

consumers, and a more secure energy future for our country.”Nancy Sutley, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality, October 5, 2011

“Transmission is a vital component of our nation’s energy portfolio.”Secretary Ken Salazar, Department of the Interior, October 5, 2011

“An upgraded electricity grid will give consumers choices while promoting energy savings, increasing energy efficiency, and fostering the growth of renewable energy sources.”Secretary Steven Chu, Department of Energy, October 5, 2011

Transmission Coordination• Interagency MOU – October 2009

• Coordination in Federal Agency Review of Electric Transmission Facilities on Federal Land

• Rapid Response Transmission Team (RRTT)• DOI, Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, EPA, FERC,

Advisory Council, CEQ• Improve coordination of electric transmission permitting,

review and consultation• Apply uniform and consistent approach to Tribal consultation• Resolve interagency conflicts and ensure agencies meet

timelines

• Priority Transmission Pilot Projects• Boardman to Hemingway (500 kV, Idaho Power, OR/ID) - BLM• Gateway West (500 kV, Idaho Power/Rocky Mtn Power, WY/ID) -

BLM• SunZia (500 kV, SunZia Transmission, NM/AZ) - BLM• TransWest Express (600 kV, TransWest, WY/UT/NV) - BLM• Cascade Crossing (500 kV, Portland General Electric, OR) –

BLM• Hampton/LaCrosse (345 kV, MN/WI)• Susquehanna/Roseland (500 kV, PN/NJ)

Transmission Study

• WECC – Transmission Expansion Planning Policy Committee (TEPPC)• 2012 Study Request to support Solar Programmatic EIS• TEPPC Draft Study Program – release 4/10/12

• BLM Study Request• Support additional load from development of SEZs• 17 SEZs (5 Priority SEZs)

• Brenda (AZ), Amargosa (NV), Riverside East (CA), Imperial East (CA) and Afton (NM)

• Four Study Requests• Case 1 – 10-year study to support BLM projected build-out• Case 2 – 10-year study to support State Renewable

Portfolio Standards• Case 3 – 10-year study to support increased capacity lines• Case 4 – 20-year study to support increased capacity lines

“Let history show that we emerged from this crisis a

stronger nation... a nation that transformed the way we use

energy… a nation that built a clean energy economy with

American workers, American resources, and American

ingenuity. This is the moment to grow by our dreams. Let us

build a safe, secure, and clean energy future.”Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar 9/30/10