In preparation for a big expansion of solar energy projects on public lands in six western states, U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will host a number of public meetings in the areas that will be most affected by the projects.
The meetings will offer the public a chance to voice their opinion on the Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), a two-year study conducted by the Obama Administration in order to identify the best methods and locations for developing solar power projects. The study was released in mid-December and highlighted 24 areas in six states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah — best suited for large scale production. Those areas have been dubbed “solar zones.”
To date, federal officials have planned 13 meetings, each of which Bureau of Land Management Director Tom Abbey views as an important opportunity to improve the solar project development process:
“The lessons learned from developing this Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and the public input obtained during this crucial comment period will help make all solar development resulting from this process ‘Smart from the Start.”
Here are the meetings that have been schedule thus far, by state:
Arizona
- Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 7:00pm: Sheraton Crescent Hotel, 2620 W. Dunlap Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021
- Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 7:00pm: Pima Community College, 4905 E. Broadway, Building C, Room 105, Tucson, AZ 85709 (LOCATION TENTATIVE)
California
- Monday, February 7, 2011 at 7:00pm: Imperial County Admin. Center, 940 W. Main Street, Suite 211, El Centro, CA 92243
- Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 7:00pm: Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, 44-600 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells, CA 92210
- Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 7:00pm: Hilton Sacramento Arden West, 2200 Harvard St., Sacramento, CA 95815
- Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 7:00pm: Holiday Inn Express, 2700 Lenwood Road, Barstow, CA 92311
Colorado
- Monday, March 7, 2011 at 7:00pm: San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center Education and Conference Center, 1921 Main Street, Alamosa, CO 81101
Nevada
- Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 7:00pm: Ramada Las Vegas, 325 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89169
- Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 7:00pm: Esmeralda County School, 270 N. Euclid Avenue, Goldfield, NV 89013
- Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 7:00pm: Caliente Elementary School, 280 Lincoln Street, Caliente, NV 89008
New Mexico
- Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 7:00pm: Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, 705 S. Telshor Boulevard, Las Cruces, NM 88011
Utah
- Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 7:00pm: Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites, 1575 West 200 North, Cedar City, UT 84720
- Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 7:00pm: Hampton Inn & Suites – Airport, 307 N. Admiral Byrd Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Individuals can register in advance to speak at the event via the Solar PEIS website.
