When it comes to demonstrating prudence on energy policy, the federal government has a knack for odd timing.
The Times reported today on the Bureau of Land Management's recent decision to halt new solar energy development projects while it assesses the risks and benefits of solar development. The agency, which manages more than 250 million acres nationwide--including prime real estate for thirsty solar panels--has decided to step back and "evaluate a number of alternative management strategies to determine which presents the best management approach... to adopt in terms of mitigating potential impacts and facilitating solar energy development while carrying out their respective missions."
Apparently, they'll be back after this break. Meanwhile, about 130 proposals for new projects are winding their way through the bureaucratic review process.
Understandably, alternative energy proponents are a bit stumped. Gas prices are rocketing skyward, climate change is casting the threat of catastrophe around the globe, and worldwide energy consumption is soaring. So, what better time for the White House to slow down the advancement of a burgeoning alternative energy source in the name of good management?
Solar energy developers and some environmentalists suggest the move smacks of heel dragging. They question the eagerness to slow down solar development while demand is accelerating. After all, the conventional energy industries seem to be taking a distinctly more cavalier approach to their development, as they press Congress for unprecedented access to natural resources on the outer continental shelf and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Though solar has been gaining momentum, it's hard to contend with the lead-like inertia of the fossil fuel status quo, fattened from years of federal subsidies.
It’s not shocking that the Bureau of Land Management—which under the Bush administration has promoted a massive rush to lease public lands for oil and gas development—is once again drumming up tensions with environmentalists. But the solar “freeze” is particularly chilling to renewable-energy advocates who fear federal support is flagging just as solar finds its stride in communities around the country. Legislation to boost clean energy development is in danger in the Senate as Republicans rally around the industry standard: more drilling. Well, that's one way of "mitigating potential impacts."
Comments (6)
Oil men Bush-Cheney PROMOTE BIG OIL'S PRICE GOUGING the consumers.
DEREGULATION of all industry is a bad idea. We pay taxes to government to MANAGE industry so it doesn't rape the consumer and crash the economy as it is doing now.
They failled at their job.
Bush-Cheney SHOULD BE FIRED & IMPEACHED, not allowed to
walk away with billions in profits from their corporation pals of their
NANNY STATE FOR THE RICH.
This story is indicative of the alleged corruption in our government at the highest levels. Alternative energy? Those in charge are not smart enough to recognize an emergency when they see one, or are they? I remember hearing the news reports three months prior and forward to 911; 'bin laden determined to strike America'. DUH. Looks like he meant it. The alarms have been sounded for the past several decades or longer about our dependence on foreign oil. A year ago, in what must have been a epiphany for him, George W. Bush went on National television to announce 'we are addicted to oil'. DUH; what did you or what are you doing about it, dude? Now the avenues and support we need to develop alternative energy seem to be blocked by the public servants whose salaries we pay with our tax dollars. These officials are charged with the duty to protect our Nation and National interests from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Foreign oil dependence is and has been a National security issue for the past 50 years. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Baffled? Not me. Looks like just another day at the Office of Mismanagement. Politicians take big money from the oil companies. This policy should be struck down by the Supreme Court; seems they are too busy reducing punitive damages for Exxon Oil concerning their responsibility for the Valdez disaster.
Why is everyone blaming this on just Bush & Chaney. It is ALL the politicians. A lot of it is our fault too for letting these politicians continue their years of neglect and incompetence. These men & women tell us that we don't have the right to protect our border and let the illegals in then compound it by wanting to give them the same benefits as American citizens. These politicians are doing what they do (?) and are getting their pockets lined with $$'s. Shame on us because there isn't a decent candidate to lead us into the future. It's about time to stand up and be counted. But who am I to talk. No one but a simple John Doe who's getting fleeced by the establishment: meaning BOTH PARTIES
Thanks for writing this editorial. Unfortunately, it just doesn't make the case strong enough. I dunno. Maybe it does, but too subtly. In any case, What should be noted, as the previous commenters already said, is the horrific ties that this God awful administration, with the rubber stamping of the the rethugs in Congress, are directly and irrefutably aligned and entwined with the oil industry. They will do whatever it takes to keep this country additcted to oil, even if it's foreign, as indicated by the measure of success that they use for the Iraq debacle. That, of course, being that they strong-armed the Iraqi puppet government to accept the predominantly American oil giants to manage the Iraqi oil fields. Gotta keep those profits up. In spite of this oil crisis, which is mostly a crisis for the users rather than the oil industry, and which is crippling the world economy, their profits must, must, MUST be protected. Oil giants are making record profits. Can't have pesky solar dipping into that, after all. I am just dumbfounded over the pure unadulterated greed of these oil and war profiteers, including dubya and his dick. Miggod, how rich do these people have to be?
Hey darker, you must be new to the world of facts and democracies. The government is not there to "manage" business, unless of course you are pining for a planned economy like the former Soviet Union. Maybe you are?
As for the cries against Big Oil, those nasty Republicans and the related blather emitted by mini-minds, maybe you should save your breath and go back to reading a little history. No US government administration has taken significant action towards energy independence. That's the nature of US government in general. It responds to crisis. Long range planning is not possible when you have to get re-elected every 2-4 years.
I worked as a solar energy researcher in the 1980's. Anyone who looks at this as a saving force for the future is clueless. It does supplement energy generation, but it is expensive and low yield. And, truth be told, there is a lifetime to the solar panels. We spent lots of time at BP Oil (gasp- what is an oil company doing on solar energy projects!!!) trying to increase the lifespan of the silicon arrays.
Oil is a gift from God. It contains 100's of years of "solar energy" captured in a liquid form. That is why it is so darn impressive. The next closest thing is coal. After that, it's nuclear. Oh yeah, and after that, it's back to burning trees and riding horses. Maybe that's the ultimate environmental agenda. Seems that way.
Sorry to burst the dreamers' bubbles out there, but them's the facts. And I worked at a nuclear fusion research facility (U of R LLE) in the 80's. Maybe in a 100 years there will be a break through. Till then, keep your matches handy.
hey Upstate, BP Oil is only utilizing solar technologies because they are already cost-effective for a number of applications; and unlike fossil fuels, solar technology is bound to become cheaper and more efficient as time goes by. Solar has been in a rut due to limited the limited availability of polysilicon, but thanks to the efforts of upstarts like GT Solar and Prism Solar these problems are being overcome. Fossil fuels will never be a viable source of renewable energy, therefore then cannot be a part of any sensible long-term energy plan.
You are right that solar cannot produce all the energy we need yet, but creating more nuclear waste and mining all the coal in the world will not solve our problems. Solar, wind and flywheel technologies are viable today with proper government and community support; for the long-term we should maybe start taking the ideas of Nikola Tesla seriously, he did after all give us virtually all of the principle technologies which have gotten us this far. Our politicians and government are afraid to discuss him because of their own attempts to exploit his genius for weapon-building, but the internet is full of proof that he mastered wireless power transfer and even tapped into zero point energy. If you want to keep telling yourself that everything is helpless then be my guest, but don't think for a second that you can actually burst my bubble. The old ways simply don't work anymore, get used to it.