Today's article in Energy Policy on the BLM delays on solar project approvals on federal land raises an interesting point. Irrespective of what type of alternative energy project proposed on public lands, the Federal Government has not sufficiently funded the Bureau of Land Management to add the staff with the necessary experience to handle these requests. The article below points to non-industry applicants like Goldman Sachs proposing nonsensical projects as a pipeline bottleneck, but even if you look to sophisticated experienced project teams, like those awaiting NRC and BLM approval to begin in-situ uranium extraction in Wyoming, the story is the same. The Bureau of Land Management staffs are too small and don't have the experience to qualify the requests. In his budget request, President Obama only looked to add around $9 million to the entire BLM budget for next year. If the White House is committed to the proliferation of alternative energy, particularly in the western states, where wind, solar and geothermal energy are prolific, the BLM needs substantially more resources.
TRADITIONAL ENERGY
Power Industry Acquisitions Surge In US http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-31/power-industry-acquisitions-surge-in-u-s-as-blackstone-nrg-hunt-bargains.html
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Energy Secretary Notes Progress in Digital Meter Installations in US http://sunpluggers.com/news/energy-secretary-notes-progress-in-installing-digital-meters-across-us-0880
ENERGY POLICY
Application Glut at BLM Delays Solar Energy on Federal Lands http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h9pEOTZycFJI6HebIzK_Lm7z6IKwD9HV26L00
Mountain West Can Lead the Way on Energy Innovation http://www.huffingtonpost.com/devon-swezey/the-mountain-west-can-lea_b_702032.html
Brookings Institute Report on Western States Energy Development http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2010/0901_energy_muro_rahman.aspx
COMPANY NEWS
SkyFuel's Parabolic Solar Troughs are 73% Efficient http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/08/skyfuels-parabolic-troughs-are-73-efficient
Uranium One Shareholders Approve ARMZ Acquisition http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/HeadlineNews/Nuclear/6402812/
JDSU Introduces Concentrated PV Technology http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jdsu-debuts-concentrated-photovoltaic-technology-for-solar-power-generation-2010-09-01?reflink=MW_news_stmp
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