July 3

After only a month, the Bureau of Land Management has lifted a moratorium on solar power development on public lands.

"We heard the concerns expressed during the scoping period about waiting to consider new applications, and we are taking action," said James Caswell, director of the BLM, a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior. "By continuing to accept and process new applications for solar energy projects, we will aggressively help meet growing interest in renewable energy sources while ensuring environmental protections."

A month ago, the BLM suspended accepting solar project applications while it assessed the environmental, social and economic impacts of solar energy development on BLM lands under a joint programmatic Environmental Impact Statement with the U.S. Department of Energy.

The BLM manages 258 million surface acres of land in 12 western states, including Alaska, more than any federal agency.

Contact Waste News reporter Joe Truini at (330) 865-6166 or jtruini@crain.com

To subscribe or visit go to:  http://www.wastenews.com