BLM: wind development OK on public land

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Oregon's Bureau of Land Use Management will continue to permit wind development on public lands, despite a push by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to set new guidelines for siting wind turbines in order to protect Golden and Bald eagles and migratory birds.

"Basically BLM Oregon has not been directed to stop issuing permits. They are all in various states of review," said Jeff Clark, public affairs specialist for the agency.

The statement follows reports that BLM offices in California have suspended wind development on public lands until the Fish and Wildlife Service has issued its guidelines.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is adopting new standards aimed at protecting birds from wind turbines. As the effort proceeds, existing wind farms are being reviewed and pending projects are under scrutiny nationwide for potential bird impacts, with four projects in Oregon receiving particular attention.

Clark said, however, that development would proceed as normal on public land in Oregon throughout the effort and that, typically the "Golden Eagle is taken into consideration for any development." While the agency may choose to retool its siting procedures based on future recommendations from the Fish and Wildlife Service, Clark said development will continue for the time being.

There are currently 20 wind-testing projects underway on 208,784 acres of BLM land in Oregon with companies including PacifiCorp., Oregon Community Wind LLC and Horizon Wind Energy LLC. Seventeen similar applications are pending on 88,356 acres filed by companies including Iberdrola Renewables Inc., Clipper Windpower Dev Co Inc. and Oregon Power Solutions.

Additionally, six companies have applied to or are developing wind-testing towers on 29,053 acres of BLM land. Six easements have been authorized on approximately 37 acres. So far no turbines have been developed.

BLM Oregon manages public lands in two states: 15,707,047 acres in Oregon and 436,848 in Washington. Except for land in nine protected wilderness areas totaling 253,348 acres, all BLM-managed land is available for energy development. Applications are scrutinized for their impacts to a variety of considerations, including wildlife, habitat or recreational areas, views and flyover areas. Impacts to sage grouse, mule deer and pygmy rabbits are of particular concern.

Renewable energy development on public lands is a critical part of a Congressional push toward energy independence and diversification of energy sources in America. Through the Energy Policy Act of 2005, 10,000 megawatts of non-hydro energy generation capacity are slated for development on public lands by 2015.

Much of that development will occur in the West. BLM manages 245 million acres of public land nationally, located primarily in 12 western states.

Lee van der Voo, lvdvoo*at*gmail.com, is a freelance writer for Sustainable Business Oregon.