What next? Solar power plants in the Land of Enchantment? Maybe.
As summer begins in earnest and temperatures climb, New Mexicans don't need to be reminded of the power of the sun, but here's an interesting factoid: "Every hour the sun bathes the Earth in as much energy as the world consumes in an entire year."
New Mexico and other Western states could certainly play a role in capturing that solar power and helping fill the demand for clean energy. But what of the side effects of Big Solar? Where could utility-scale power plants go? How much water would they require for cooling and other uses? What about transmission lines? What industries might be drawn if large solar plants were built?
The federal Bureau of Land Management is considering just those questions in a broad look at large-scale solar power on its lands in six Western states — New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California. As part of its effort to evaluate the potential environmental impacts, the agency is holding scoping meetings throughout the six-state region, including one in Albuquerque next week.
The BLM expects to identify which of its own lands may be environmentally suitable for solar energy development and which lands would be excluded from such development. It also will consider whether designation of additional electricity transmission corridors on BLM-administered lands is necessary to facilitate utility-scale solar energy development. The results will be in published in a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, which will take nearly two years to complete, the agency says.
The Department of Energy is a partner in the scoping process as well and, as a result of the study, may adopt new policies on such issues as how it funds solar energy projects.
The agencies have set up a Web site that is packed with information about utility-scale solar, including the various technologies that might provide electric power, the potential environmental effects and ways individuals can add their 2 cents to the discussion.
The Albuquerque scoping meeting will include an introductory presentation on solar energy technologies and market prospects; the proposed actions and scope of the impact statement, including proposed alternatives and environmental issues and impacts to be analyzed; and the public participation process. Public comments will be taken immediately after the presentation; written comments will be accepted until July 15.
The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Drury Inn & Suites, 4310 The 25 Way Northeast.
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