INTERACTIVE WEB CONFERENCE
Permitting Solar and Wind
Projects on Federal Lands
Permitting Solar and Wind
Projects on Federal Lands
Tuesday, August 18, 2009:
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
One of the prime stumbling blocks in developing solar and wind energy has been dealing with siting and permitting issues on federal lands. A huge influx of solar applications has flooded the BLM, created a logjam in the permitting process and as a result, created costly delays for developers. In response, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recently signed an order setting aside some 676,000 acres of public lands for two years of studies and environmental reviews for solar energy developments. Congress is also considering changing the mechanisms used to determine land use rights on public land for both wind and solar. What impacts will these actions have on the opportunity to develop renewable energy projects, and how long before the tangible effects are felt?
The panel will discuss the current siting and permitting processes on Federal lands, and explore how the allocation of land and some of the new permitting mechanisms might affect current applicants and future developments.
Moderator:
Rebecca W. Watson, Partner, HOGAN & HARTSON, LLP
Panelists:
Charles Benjamin, Director, Nevada Office, WESTERN RESOURCE ADVOCATES
Ray Brady, Manager, Energy Policy Act Team, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
John Wallin, Director, NEVADA WILDERNESS PROJECT
Peter H. Weiner, Partner and Chair of West Coast Environmental Practice,
PAUL HASTINGS LLP