Programmatic EIS to Develop and Implement Agency-Specific Programs for Solar Energy Development

Transcription

1 Programmatic EIS to Develop and Implement Agency-Specific Programs for Solar Energy Development Project Status Update Southwest Hydrology Workshop October 22, 2009

2 Why are DOE and BLM Preparing the Solar Energy Development Programmatic EIS? For DOE s Solar Energy Technology Program: to facilitate utility-scale solar energy development in the six-state study area in support of program mission (EO 13212). For BLM: to facilitate renewable energy development on BLMadministered lands in accordance with various mandates and requirements (EO 13212, Energy Policy Act of 2005, Secretary Salazar s Order 3285). 150 MW Plant at Kramer Junction, CA Solar Energy Development PEIS 2

3 What is the Scope of the Solar PEIS Analyses? Evaluate utility scale solar energy development projects that will generate enough power for tens of thousands of homes (typically greater than 10 MW capacity). Six-state study area encompasses the best solar resources in the United States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah BLM manages 119 million acres of Federal land in the 6 states. BLM-Administered Land in Solar PEIS Study Area Assess impacts of utility-scale solar facilities and required transmission connections: Environmental, social, and economic impacts; Positive and negative impacts; and Direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts. Solar Energy Development PEIS 3

4 What Results do BLM and DOE Expect from the Programmatic EIS? Identification of land appropriate for utility scale solar energy development (technically and environmentally). Establishment of policies, strategies, and requirements that would apply to solar energy projects supported by DOE or located on BLM-administered lands: Best practices for deploying solar projects, Methods to minimize impacts to natural and cultural resources. Evaluation of the impacts of designating study areas in each of the six states as solar energy zones (areas where solar development would be prioritized). Streamlining of future project-specific assessments through tiering to analyses in the PEIS. Amendment of BLM land use plans in the six-state area to address solar energy development. Solar Energy Development PEIS 4

5 Legislation and Policy Related to the Programmatic EIS: Executive Order 13212, Actions to Expedite Energy-Related Projects, requires Federal agencies to expedite review of energy project applications. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Title II, Sec. 211) requires the DOI to approve at least 10,000 MW of non-hydropower renewable energy on public lands by Secretarial Order No (issued March 11, 2009) established a policy goal of identifying and prioritizing specific locations best suited for large-scale production of solar energy. Solar Energy Development PEIS 5

6 Solar Intensity in the Six-State Study Area on BLM- Administered Lands (Direct Normal Insolation > 5.0 kwh/m 2 -day) Solar Energy Development PEIS 6

7 Solar Technologies Being Evaluated Concentrating Solar Power Parabolic trough (includes Linear Fresnel) Power tower Dish engine Photovoltaic (PV) Concentrating PV Flat-plate PV Solar Energy Development PEIS 7

8 Concentrating Solar Power Technologies Parabolic Troughs Power Tower Dish or Stirling Engine Solar Energy Development PEIS 8

9 Concentrating PV Systems Reflective Refractive Reflective + optical rod Solar Energy Development PEIS 9

10 PV Flat Plate Systems: Tracking & Fixed Nellis AFB 14.2 MW Flat Plate - Single Axis Tracking 11MW Flat Plate Fixed Tilt Serpa, Portugal Solar Energy Development PEIS 10

11 Overview of the NEPA Process What is in an EIS? An EIS provides a comprehensive analysis of environmental and socioeconomic impacts Describes the purpose and need for the proposed program Identifies environmental impacts and mitigation Analyzes alternatives to a proposed action Analyzes the short and long term impacts, cumulative impacts, and the commitment of resources that could result Describes how public concerns were treated in the analysis Solar Energy Development PEIS 11

12 Overview of the NEPA Process, cont. Why is this EIS being prepared? NEPA requires EIS for major federal actions with the potential for significant impact on the quality of the human environment. The Agencies have determined that a programmatic EIS is appropriate to evaluate establishing specific agency-wide solar energy programs and additional related policy. What is a Programmatic EIS? A Programmatic EIS evaluates environmental impacts of broad agency actions, such as development of programs or setting national policies. It does not evaluate specific projects. Instead, it considers Generic impacts of actions in this case, of solar energy technologies, and potentially applicable mitigation measures The Solar Energy Development PEIS will also consider the impacts of designating solar energy zones. Solar Energy Development PEIS 12

13 Overview of the NEPA Process, cont. What is scoping? Scoping is the first phase of public involvement in an EIS. It is the process by which the Agencies gather information on: Proposed action and Alternatives to be considered, Significant issues to be analyzed, Possible mitigation measures, Availability of data relevant to the analyses, and Interested individuals and organizations and their specific concerns. Initial scoping for the PEIS was done in June and July A new scoping period was provided (June 30 through September 14) with the announcement of the 24 solar energy study areas. The public was encouraged to submit comments related to environmental issues and existing resource data for the study areas. Solar Energy Development PEIS 13

14 Solar Energy Study Areas Study areas on BLM-administered lands are being evaluated for suitability as solar energy zones, where solar development would be prioritized. Announced 6/29/2009; FR notices published 6/30/ study areas (about 670,000 acres) being evaluated: 3 in Arizona 4 in California 4 in Colorado 7 in Nevada 3 in New Mexico 3 in Utah Solar Energy Development PEIS 14

15 Study Area Impacts to be Evaluated: Land use conflicts Soil, air, and water Ecological Socioeconomic Cultural and paleontological Visual Hazardous materials and waste management Health and safety Transportation Solar Energy Development PEIS 15

16 Overview of Study Area Locations Solar Energy Development PEIS 16

17 Arizona Solar Energy Study Areas Brenda: Lake Havasu Field Office, ~4,300 acres Bullard Wash: Hassayampa Field Office, ~8,200 acres Gillespie: Lower Sonoran Field Office ~4,000 acres Solar Energy Development PEIS 17

18 California Solar Energy Study Areas Imperial East: El Centro Field Office, ~12,800 acres Iron Mountain: Needles Field Office, ~110,000 acres Pisgah: Barstow Field Office, ~26,300 acres Riverside East: Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, ~202,000 acres Solar Energy Development PEIS 18

19 Colorado Solar Energy Study Areas Antonito Southeast: La Jara Field Office, ~9,600 acres De Tilla Gulch: Saguache Field Office ~1,500 acres Fourmile East: La Jara Field Office, ~3,900 acres Los Mogotes East: La Jara Field Office, ~5,900 acres Solar Energy Development PEIS 19

20 Nevada Solar Energy Study Areas Amargosa Valley: Las Vegas Field Office, ~32,700 acres Delamar Valley: Ely Field Office, ~17,900 acres Dry Lake: Las Vegas Field Office, ~16,500 acres Dry Lake Valley North: Ely Field Office, ~49,800 acres East Mormon Mountain: Ely Field Office, ~ 7,400 acres Gold Point: Battle Mountain Field Office, ~5,800 acres Millers: Battle Mountain Field Office, ~19,200 acres Solar Energy Development PEIS 20

21 New Mexico Solar Energy Study Areas Afton: Las Cruces Field Office, ~55,800 acres Mason Draw: Las Cruces Field Office ~17,800 acres Red Sand: Las Cruces Field Office, ~47,000 acres Solar Energy Development PEIS 21

22 Utah Solar Energy Study Areas Escalante Valley: Cedar City Field Office, ~6,600 acres Milford Flats South: Cedar City Field Office, ~6,400 acres Wah Wah Valley: Cedar City Field Office, ~3,700 acres Solar Energy Development PEIS 22

23 Projected Solar PEIS Schedule Second public scoping period ended: 9/14/2009 Comments available on the project web site for downloading/browsing: 10/20/2009 Draft PEIS to be released: Summer day public review period Final PEIS to be released: Spring 2011 Solar Energy Development PEIS 23

24 Scoping Comments Received 280 comments from a variety of Federal and State agencies, local governments, environmental groups, and individuals 29,000 campaign comments from The Wilderness Society Type of Commenter # % Academia % Environmental/NGO % Federal agency % Industry/Ranching % Local government % Private citizen % Special Interest % State agency % Tribal % Solar Energy Development PEIS 24

25 Scoping Comments Summarized Most liked the idea of considering solar energy study areas Many continue to favor government policies that promote distributed generation and conservation measures over utility-scale solar development on public lands Many continue to ask that utility-scale solar only be allowed on previously degraded or mechanically altered lands Requests to add, expand, delete, and reduce study areas Concerns with impacts to T & E species, particularly desert tortoise, and sensitive species; dust; noise; viewsheds, particularly proximity to NPs, WAs, WSAs, historic trails, and cultural landscapes; adverse impacts to traditional uses such as recreation, grazing, military training and testing Solar Energy Development PEIS 25

26 A Sampling of Comments Relating to Water Some policy-makers seem to have forgotten that the desert is a desert. Water is scarce. Will there be enough water to grow our crops? Competition for water is intense already. The need for copious water makes all of these sites questionable. Water needs should be a large factor in siting decisions. This increased demand for a limited water supply could have adverse affects on local water users, both agricultural and municipal. If this drought continues, water could be the most precious resource, even more expensive than energy. Water must be the primary influence for decisions made on solar plants in desert areas. It should be the make or break criteria. Once the water is gone, it is gone and there is no turning back. The water usage alone would be a reason for denial of these projects in this area. Part of the reason the desert Southwest is favorable for solar energy development is the fact that it is a desert. Rainfall is slight, cloudy days are few and sunny days abundant. Consequently water resources are limited. Solar Energy Development PEIS 26

27 Preliminary Water Use Assumptions for Solar PEIS (assume MW facility for trough and power tower; MW for dish engine and PV): Technology ac-ft/yr/mw Total ac-ft/yr Parabolic trough (including CLFR) and power tower Wet: for washing Dry: for washing 550-6, Dish engine 0.5 (for washing) PV 0.5 (for washing) Construction fugitive dust control (80% PM10 suppression, 2 applications a day, 5 vehicles/hr, 250 days/yr, 40 in/yr evaporation) ,000 ac trough 900 3,000 ac tower 90 3,000 ac dish engine 90 3,000 ac PV Construction workforce water needs (20 gal/d/worker) Operations workforce water needs (26 gal/d/worker) 3.3 FTEs/MW trough 2.4 FTEs/MW tower 1.0 FTE/MW dish engine 0.5 FTEs/MW PV 0.5 FTEs/MW trough 0.2 FTEs/MW tower 0.2 FTEs/MW dish engine 0.02 FTEs/MW PV Solar Energy Development PEIS 27

28 Initial Assessment of Water Resources by State/Study Area Data needs for all study areas: Local characterization of groundwater resources to determine sustainable yield and water quality Arizona Groundwater permit required for Gillespie; not required for Brenda or Bullard Wash California Although much of California s groundwater is unregulated, Solar Thermal Plants > 50 MWs require CEC approval which may affect choice of cooling Colorado Water right and well permit required; extreme restrictions on new groundwater withdrawals Nevada Water right and groundwater withdrawal permit required. Some basins closed or over appropriated; some study areas may be affected by SNWA planned projects New Mexico - Water right and well permit required; extreme restrictions on new groundwater withdrawals Utah Groundwater withdrawal permit required; water right transfer may be possible Solar Energy Development PEIS 28

29 Examples of Potentially Applicable Mitigation Measures Coordination with federal, state, and local agencies that regulate the use of water resources to determine what permits and/or approvals are needed to obtain water for a solar development project Hydrology studies should be conducted to characterize the aquifer from which groundwater would be obtained Any POD for a project proposing use of groundwater must include a reconnaissance level groundwater investigation as a basis for BLM to make an assessment of potential impacts to groundwater or surface water resources, including: Water use requirements for the project Description of proposed water sources General characterization of aquifer proposed for use Impact analysis/conclusions/references/supporting maps/tables/figures To the extent possible, developers should plan to use recycled or impaired water. Solar Energy Development PEIS 29

30 Visit the public information center: Provides access to: Information on the EIS process Information on solar energy resources and technologies EIS-related documents Project schedule Online comment forms Project updates notifications Contact the Federal agencies: Linda Resseguie, BLM Washington Office, Lisa Jorgensen, Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, Solar Energy Development PEIS 30