12 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES AND REASONABLY FORESEEABLE
2 |
DEVELOPMENT SCENARIO |
3 |
|
4 |
|
5 |
2.1 INTRODUCTION |
6 |
|
7 |
This PEIS examines alternative management approaches for utility-scale solar energy |
8 |
development that could be implemented by the BLM and DOE. |
9 |
|
10For the BLM, the PEIS examines the no action alternative, which would continue the
11BLM’s existing policies, and two action alternatives, each of which would have the BLM
12establish a comprehensive program to facilitate utility-scale solar energy development on BLM
13land. The three BLM alternatives that are examined include:
14 |
|
15 |
• A no action alternative that continues the issuance of ROW authorizations for |
16 |
utility-scale solar energy development on BLM-administered lands by |
17 |
implementing the requirements of the BLM’s existing solar energy policies on |
18 |
a project-by-project basis. Lands available for solar energy development |
19 |
would include those areas currently allowable under existing applicable laws |
20 |
and statutes (approximately 98 million acres [396,600 km2] in the six-state |
21 |
study area) and in conformance with the approved land use plans. |
22 |
|
23 |
• A solar energy development program alternative that proposes categories of |
24 |
lands to be excluded from utility-scale solar energy development (about |
25 |
79 million acres [319,702 km2] proposed for exclusion) and identifies specific |
26 |
locations well suited for utility-scale production of solar energy (i.e., SEZs) |
27 |
where the BLM would prioritize development (about 285,000 acres |
28 |
[1,553 km2] in SEZs). The program alternative allows for utility-scale solar |
29 |
development in variance areas outside of SEZs in accordance with a proposed |
30 |
variance process (about 19 million acres [82,964 km2] in variance areas). The |
31 |
program alternative also establishes ROW authorization policies and design |
32 |
features1 for utility-scale solar energy development on BLM-administered |
33 |
lands. |
34 |
|
35 |
• An SEZ program alternative that applies the same ROW authorization policies |
36 |
and design features as the solar energy development program alternative to |
37 |
utility-scale solar energy development but restricts ROW applications to SEZs |
38 |
only (up to approximately 285,000 acres [1,553 km2] in the six-state study |
39 |
area). |
40 |
|
1 See text box on page 2-2 for more information about design features versus mitigation measures.
Final Solar PEIS 2-1 July 2012
1 |
DOE examines two alternatives in this PEIS: |
2 |
|
3• A no action alternative under which DOE continues its existing case-by-case
4 |
process for addressing environmental concerns for solar projects supported by |
5 |
the agency on any lands (i.e., not restricted to BLM-administered lands); and |
6 |
|
7• A programmatic environmental guidance alternative that develops guidance
8 |
with recommended environmental best management practices and mitigation |
9 |
measures that could be applied to all DOE solar energy projects. |
10 |
|
11This chapter describes each of the agencies’ alternatives in detail, including the specific
12policies and guidelines that would be implemented under the various alternatives. The BLM
13program would be applicable to all utility-scale solar energy technologies implemented under
14BLM jurisdiction in the six-state study area (i.e., projects implemented under a BLM-issued
15ROW authorization). The DOE guidance would be applicable to all utility-scale solar energy
16technologies implemented under DOE’s jurisdiction (i.e., DOE-funded solar projects), as
17appropriate. Technologies described in Chapter 3 of the Draft Solar PEIS are representative of
18the technologies most likely to be deployed over the next 20 years; however, the agencies’
19programs could apply to other technologies, with additional mitigation requirements developed
20on a project-by-project basis, as applicable.
21
22This chapter also presents the results of a reasonably foreseeable development scenario
23(RFDS) analysis for solar energy over the next 20 years (Section 2.4) and discusses other
24alternatives and issues considered in this PEIS (Section 2.5).
25
26
Mitigation Measures and Design Features
Mitigation measures are measures that could reduce or avoid adverse impacts. Mitigation measures can include (40 CFR 1508.20):
Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action;
Minimizing the impact by limiting the degree of magnitude of the action and its implementation;
Rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment;
Reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action; and
Compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute resources or environments.
Design features are mitigation measures that have been incorporated into the proposed action or alternatives to avoid or reduce adverse impacts. The proposed programmatic design features of the Solar Energy Program would apply to all utility-scale solar energy ROWs on BLM-administered lands under both action alternatives. Additional design features have been proposed for individual SEZs.
|
|
|
|
|
Final Solar PEIS |
2-2 |
July 2012 |
||