Obama Admin Fast-Tracks 7 Solar/Wind Projects as part of “We Can’t Wait” Renewable Energy Strategy
The Obama Administration is putting seven solar and wind energy projects on “fast-track” review for federal permitting and review, part of President Obama’s “We Can’t Wait” strategy for catalyzing further growth in US renewable energy.
Spread across four western states, the projects have been deemed “nationally and regionally significant,” and the Obama Administration has set expedited target dates for completion of the federal review and permitting process. If they pass through successfully, the seven solar and wind projects would add another 5 GW (max rated) of clean, renewable power capacity to the national supply.
The Office of Management and Budget has been put in charge of overseeing the fast-track renewable energy projects that qualify to be included in Obama’s “We Can’t Wait” renewable energy strategy. The motivation is to oversee “a government-wide effort to make the permitting and review process for infrastructure projects more efficient and effective, saving time while driving better outcomes for the environment and local communities,” according to the White House.
Following are the solar energy projects put on the “We Can’t Wait” fast-track:
- Solar Reserve’s 100-MW Quartzite CSP project in Arizona
- enXco’s 150-MW Desert Harvest in California
- NextEra’s 750-MW McCoy PV projects in California
- RES Americas’ 200-MW Moapa in Nevada
- First Solar’s 350-MW Silver State South in Nevada
The two fast-track wind power projects are:
- BP Wind’s 425MW Mohave wind farm in Arizona
- Power Company of Wyoming’s 3-GW Chokecherry/Sierra Madre, the largest wind farm proposed in the US
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Not sure of the exact numbers but if one was to compare the potential construction and then long-term jobs associated with these projects I am certain it would dwarf the Keystone pipeline project. Perhaps even 10:1. That could be the next article associated!
As the Cornell University report on KXL said “Furthermore, pipeline spills, pollution and increased greenhouse gas emissions
incur significant human health and economic costs, thus eliminating jobs.”
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