Plant Siting

Siting a solar power plant is no small feat. Land use, access to transmission, and water rights must be considered, and securing access to a suitable site is only the first step in the siting process. SEIA supports the use of federal land for solar project development and is actively engaged in the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) process for crafting a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for solar energy. SEIA is also represented on the Technical Committee for the Western Governors' Association Western Renewable Energy Zone Initiative.

SEIA Resources

Public Filings

• SEIA Testimony on S. 2921, the California Desert Protection Act of 2010 - 5/20/10 
• Public Comments on California Draft Best Management Practies: Desert Renewable Energy Projects - 11/20/09 (LSA and SEIA)
• Public Comments on BLM Solar Energy Study Areas - 9/14/09 (LSA, SEIA, and CEERT) 

Fact Sheets

• Utility-Scale Solar Power Plants
• Habitat Conservation
• Water Use
• Land Use
• Utility-Scale Solar Projects List 
• Competitive Leasing

Other Siting Resources

Bureau of Land Management

• Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy
• Solar Energy Development Policy

Western Governors' Association

• Western Renewable Energy Zone Initiative
• Wildlife Corridors Initiative

Related Legislation

• H.R. 3534 The Consolidated Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources Act of 2009 (CLEAR Act)
  • Letter to Rep. Markey on Competitive Leasing from SEIA/AWEA [PDF] (7.13.10)
  • Letter to Rep. Inslee on Competitive Leasing from SEIA/AWEA [PDF] (7.13.10)

Contact: Joel Meister or Katherine Gensler