1. The ‘Golden’ Rush A Western Saga

2. Presentation Overview Solar Technology Overview How We Got Here Overview of BLM The Players Some Issues Impression of BLM and NEPA Conclusion

3. Solar Technology: Photovoltaic (PV) Utility-scale solar photovoltaic technologies convert energy from sunlight directly into electricity, using large arrays of solar panels. DOE, 2010 http://solareis.anl.gov/documents/docs/NREL_PV_2.pdf Three Kinds of Technology: Single or Poly-Crystalline Thin Film Concentrating PV Use lenses or mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto high-efficiency silicon solar cells Can be fixed, single, or dual axis

4. Solar Technology: Concentrated Solar Parabolic Troughs How troughs work: Solar radiation is concentrated onto an absorber tube situated on the focal line of the trough. The trough is rotated east- west to track the sun. The receiver contains a fluid that is heated by the sun and used to operate a steam turbine to generate electricity. Solar Millennium, 2010

5. Solar Technology: Concentrated Solar Power Tower DOE, 2010 http://solareis.anl.gov/guide/photos/index.cfm Heliostats/reflecting mirrors redirect sunlight to the power. A heat transfer fluid (HTF) is heated as it passes through the receiver and then circulated through a series of heat exchangers to generate high pressure superheated steam. The steam powers a turbine/generator, which produces electricity.

6. Solar Technology: Concentrated Solar Dish DOE, 2010 http://solareis.anl.gov/guide/photos/index.cfm Dish shaped mirrors “sun catchers” which track the sun and focus solar heat onto a power conversion unit (PCU) Heat piston engine converts the absorbed heat energy into electricity

7. How We Got Here National President Obama’s New Energy for America Plan By 2010, 10% of U.S. electricity generated from Renewables By 2025, 25% Plan calls for rapid development of renewable energy, especially on America’s public lands.

8. How We Got Here Secretarial Order 3285, March 2009 Make production, development and delivery of renewable energy one of the Department’s highest priorities Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar

9. How We Got Here The Money American Recovery & Reinvestment Act passed February, 2009. Economic stimulus funding to qualified renewable projects that begin construction by December 2010. Recently revised guidance clarifies that off-site work may be taken into account.

10. How We Got Here State SB 107, September 2006 By 2010, 20% of electricity sold in CA from Renewable EO S-14-08, November 2008 By 2020, 33% Renewable Energy Action Team (REAT) “One-Stop" process MOU with CEC, CDFG, BLM, USFWS Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative (RETI) Identify transmission projects Facilitate transmission corridor designation, generation siting and permitting.

11. BLM Overview California Desert District Over 50 Solar Applications To Meet Expedited Schedules (October 2009) Renewable Energy Coordination Office (RECO) formed to expedite the leasing and production of renewable energy resources on public lands in the West. Renewable Energy Coordination Office Program Lead Appointed

12. Setting the Stage BLM Palm Springs South Coast Field Office Small Field Office Primarily deals with Fire Grazing Recreation Wildlife Wild Horses & Burros Abandoned Mine Lands Planning

13. Palm Springs – South Coast Field Office Current Applications Thermal (BLM & CEC Joint Process) NextEra: Genesis – 250 MW Solar Millennium/Chevron: Palen – 484 MW Solar Millennium/Chevron: Blythe – 968 MW Solar Reserve: Rice Airfield – 150 MW EnXco: McCoy – 300 MW NextEra: McCoy – 250 MW Photovoltaic (BLM Process) First Solar: Desert Sunlight – 550 MW Sun Peak Solar: Chuckwalla – 200 MW EnXco: Eagle Mountain – 100 MW Bullfrog: Mule Mountain & Maria Vista – 500 MW EnXco: McCoy – 300 MW NextEra: Quartzite – 600 MW Identified as Department of Interior Fast Tract Projects

14. Palm Springs – South Coast Field Office Current Applications BLM, 2010 http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/palmsprings/general_-_pssc.Par.42118.File.dat/Solar%20Energy%20Applications.pdf

15. The Wagon…Unattached to the Horse Solar PEIS 24 Solar Energy Study Areas Four in California, covering 351,000 acres.

16. The Players The Lessor BLM The New Era of 49ers Solar Developers Other Parties CEC (Solar Thermal), CPUC DOE, ACOE, USFWS CDFG, RWQCB Native American Tribes Environmental Groups

17. Some Issues SCE – All projects need a gen-tie to a substation – Where will it be? USFWS, CDFG, RWQCB, SHPO, Native American Tribes, Etc. – All projects have the potential to impacts sensitive resources, habitat, etc. – What is the approach for project mitigation? CEC, CPUC – Solar Thermal, transmission and/or substations require permits from other agencies

18. Impression of BLM and NEPA Working hard to meet the Fast Track schedules without sacrificing the process. Community Outreach Agency Coordination Tribal Coordination Coordination with Anyone Interested

19. Impression of BLM and NEPA Focus on consistency between Projects Approach to Analysis Mitigation Approaches Cumulative Effects MOUs out to Wazoo With CA, CEC, USFWS, CDFG, CPUC, etc.

20. Conclusion It is an Amazing Time to be Involved in Energy and Environmental Compliance