<Solar Millennium's Andasol parabolic trough concentrated solar thermal power plant in Spain. A similar project is slated for Amargosa Valley, Nevada.
From the Bureau of Land Management Nevada State Office website >>here.
Fast Facts about Fast-Track Renewable Energy Projects
"Fast-track projects are those where the companies involved have demonstrated to BLM that they have made sufficient progress to formally start the environmental review and public participation process. These projects are advanced enough in the permitting process that they could potentially be cleared for approval by December 2010, thus making them eligible for economic stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. All renewable energy projects proposed for BLM-managed lands receive full environmental reviews required by the National Environmental Protection Act. A number of other renewable energy projects also are on fast-track status and could soon be ready for environmental study and public review" (from BLM website).
SOLAR PROJECTS
BATTLE MOUNTAIN DISTRICT - Crescent Dunes (Solar Reserve):
• The project would occupy approximately 1,600 acres of public land 13 miles northwest of Tonopah, Nevada. Water is an issue, as the plant wants 700 acre-feet per year.
• The project would include a concentrated solar power (CSP) facility, which consists of a large field of heliostats or mirrors to reflect the sun's energy onto a central solar receiver or tower, a conventional steam turbine to generate electricity, and other related facilities.
• The project would produce a maximum of 180 megawatts of electricity.
• The bulk of the electric power produced by the facility would be transmitted to the electric grid under the control of the Sierra Pacific Power Company, doing business as NV Energy, and delivered to the Anaconda 230-kilovolt (kV) Substation, located about 8 miles north of the site. A high voltage overhead transmission line would be constructed to deliver power from the plant switchyard to the Anaconda substation. It is proposed that the new transmission line would parallel an existing transmission line that crosses the northwest corner of the site.
• Solar Reserve is a solar company focused on developing ways to store solar energy for nighttime use.
SOUTHERN NEVADA DISTRICT - Amargosa Farm Road (Solar Millennium):
• The projects would occupy approximately 13,950 acres of public land 800 yards east of Amargosa, Nevada. Residents of the town of Amargosa Valley say this potentially hazardous project is too close to their school, homes, church, and senior center. The Town's volunteer fire department could not handle fire or explosion dangers.
• The project would produce approximately 460 megawatts of electricity. Dry-cooled CSP technology would be used (the original plan was to use wet-cooling, which would have required huge amounts of water). Water is still an issue in this over-drawn basin which connects to Badwater in Death Valley National Park.
• The project would supply energy to the Valley Electric transmission line.
• Solar Millennium is a German-owned company (Solar Millennium AG).
SOUTHERN NEVADA DISTRICT - Silver State South and Silver State North (NextLight):
BLM page-Silver State South and Silver State North; Our analysis.
• NextLight Renewable Power, LLC, has submitted applications for two solar energy generation sites. The two applications are identified as Silver State South Solar Project and Silver State North Solar Project.
• The projects would occupy approximately 7,840 acres of public land one mile east of Primm, Nevada. This is extremely good Desert tortoise habitat, with a high density of tortoises on a pristine fan.
• The projects would include photovoltaic panels and related facilities, including a substation and switchyard facilities.
• The two projects combined would produce approximately 430 megawatts of electricity. Photovoltaic technology would be used.
• NextLight Renewable Power is a renewable energy company focused primarily on utility-scale solar development in the western United States.
WIND PROJECTS
ELY DISTRICT - Spring Valley Wind (Spring Valley Wind, LLC):
BLM page for Spring Valley Wind. (We will be writing a story about this).
• The project would occupy approximately 665 acres of public land, next to Swamp Cedar Area of Critical Environmental Concern, and in view of Great Basin National Park.
• The project would produce approximately 150 megawatts of electricity.
SOUTHERN NEVADA DISTRICT - Searchlight Wind (Duke Energy):
BLM page for Searchlight Wind; Our analysis.
• The project would occupy approximately 780 acres of public land one mile east of Searchlight, Nevada. Residents of the town of Searchlight say this project is too close to their homes.
• The project would include 156 wind turbines and other related facilities, including a substation administered by the Western Area Power Administration east of Searchlight, Nevada.
• The project would produce approximately 200 megawatts of electricity.
• The project would supply energy to the Western Area Power transmission line.
• Duke Energy is an energy company with headquarters in Charlotte, NC, that serves portions of the United States and Latin America.
GEOTHERMAL PROJECTS
BATTLE MOUNTAIN DISTRICT- Jersey Valley (Ormat Technologies, Inc.):
• The project would occupy approximately 62.7 acres of public land 50 miles southeast of Battle Mountain, Nevada.
• The project would produce a maximum of 180 megawatts of electricity.
• The project would supply energy to the Sierra Pacific Power Company (SPPCo) electrical transmission system.
• Ormat Technologies, Inc., is a renewable energy company with headquarters in Reno, NV, that serves the United States, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and New Zealand.
BATTLE MOUNTAIN DISTRICT - McGinness Hills (Ormat Technologies, Inc.):
• The project would occupy approximately 7,460 acres of public land 50 miles southeast of Battle Mountain, Nevada.
• The project would produce approximately 30 megawatts of electricity.
• The project would supply energy to the Sierra Pacific Power Company (SPPCo) electrical transmission system.
• Ormat Technologies, Inc., is a renewable energy company with headquarters in Reno, NV, that serves the United States, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and New Zealand.
TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECTS
ELY DISTRICT - ON Line (NV Energy):
• The project would occupy approximately 5,722 acres of public land.
• The project would include a 280-mile transmission line.
• The project would be able to carry approximately 500 kV of electricity.
• NV Energy is an energy company with headquarters in Reno, NV, that serves Nevada and northeastern California.
ELY DISTRICT - Southwestern Intertie Project (SWIP)(Great Basin Transmission, LLC):
BLM page For Southwestern Intertie Project.
• The project would occupy approximately 6,409 acres of public land.
• The project would include a 230-mile transmission line.
• The project would be able to carry approximately 500 kV of electricity.
^Site of Spring Valley Wind Project proposal in White Pine County, Nevada. It is a relatively undisturbed basin west of Great Basin National Park, and part of the basin was once consisdered for inclusion in the park.
HOME.....Fast-Track Projects in California.....Interior Secretary Salazar on Fast-Tracking
