Nevada among 11 states impacted by federal solar plan
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Small-town clerks, activists, and environmental advocates rose to voice their concerns in a bustling Las Vegas ballroom, but did the federal officials in attendance listen?
That was the question top of mind for some present at the Tuesday night Bureau of Land Management Western Solar Plan update meeting at the Red Rock Casino Resort.
“We are right now currently in the public comment phase for our draft,” Jon Raby, Nevada state director for the Bureau of Land Management, said. “We have a number of days, 60 days, for public comment so folks can give us feedback.”
The draft of the Utility-Scale Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement lists some new updates to the previous 2012 plan such as:
Include five more states
Lower project application threshold from 20mw to 5mw
Remove development limit based on solar intensity
Add exclusion criteria language
Update “problematic design features”
A part of the goal of drafts like the Solar Programmatic EIS is to get federal agencies on track for completing a zero-emission electric grid by 2035, an effort charted by the Biden administration.
Technological advances have helped lead the way for more wide-reaching usage of solar projects on uneven land that slopes and more highly efficient solar panels.
“Leave us alone type”
More than any other state, Nevada will see the most planned land use by the BLM and members of local townships and organizations are troubled.
“We like our remote, leave us alone type lifestyle,” Mike Cottingim, town clerk for Amargosa Valley, said. “Of course we are concerned, it’s a very rural area spread out all over Timbuktu and if you look at the demographics our income is not up there.”
Cottingim reflected another public commenter from Beatty, Nevada, both townships sharing Mojave Desert traits and the prospect of solar development.
“When we have almost 28,000 acres of solar projects that will either be in my township or attached to us, right along our border, it raises electric issues,” he said.
The potential strain on local emergency crews was at the forefront of Cottingim’s concerns that he voiced to BLM representatives.
“The BLM has been very courteous and let us talk,” he said. “[We] gave them a stack of documents of what we are dealing with and we will see what we can do going forward.”
Nevada impact
The current preferred BLM plan would make 22 million acres of public land open to proposals for solar development in 11 states, and Nevada’s impact would be the largest.
BLM Planning Area, Alternative Land Use Allocations (2024)
Nevada: 47,272,125 acres
Utah: 22,767,896 acres
Wyoming: 18,047,498 acres
Oregon: 15,718,197 acres
New Mexico: 13,493,392 acres
Arizona: 12,109,337 acres
Idaho: 11,774,992 acres
Colorado: 8,354,306 acres
Montana: 8,043,025 acres
California: 4,150,345 acres
Washington: 437,237 acres
No solar developments are being authorized under this planning effort as further projects will still need to undergo environmental review before being approved, according to BLM documentation.
8 News Now reached out to the Nevada Conservation League on whether it supports this plan update and it released the following statement:
“Our work to address the climate crisis demands a delicate balance between protecting our treasured spaces and building out our clean energy future. Federal investments from President Biden’s clean energy plan are unlocking unprecedented economic and environmental opportunities and pushing Nevada closer to our clean energy and emissions reduction goals. The build-out of our clean energy future must involve robust stakeholder engagement and a responsible expansion of clean energy projects. We thank the Department of Interior for their diligent efforts in updating the Western Solar Plan to ensure we meet this crucial balance.”
Nevada Conservation League
One public commenter raised their hand during the meeting to ask if any of this effort from the BLM will be changed by input from the public. Jon Raby pointed to the most recent national monument designation 90 miles away, Avi Kwa Ame.
“There were projects near proposed monument there at the time and folks felt like, there are better places for it,” Raby said. “We listened across the board.”
However, Avi Kwa Ame’s national monument designation only came after the support from thousands of activists, the Nevada congressional delegation, and the White House. 8 News Now asked if that’s what it takes for the BLM to listen to Nevadan’s concerns.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “That’s one example of when people come together and help and provide feedback for what they believe is going to be right for the community and right for their area and we listened.”
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