California and Nevada have significant potential for wind energy development, especially on Federal lands, a majority of which are administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Site development is encouraged and facilitated by the January 2006 adoption of a comprehensive Wind Energy Development Program supported by amendments to BLM land use plans and a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Davis Wind can take a project through the environmental assessment process, from identification of impacts and potential mitigation to permitting following federal, state and local procedures as appropriate.
Site-specific analyses are based on concerns raised in the Programmatic EIS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion on the Likely Effects of the Proposed Wind Energy Development Program
It is BLM’s policy to encourage the development of wind energy in acceptable areas, by processing right-of-way applications for wind energy site testing and monitoring or wind energy development projects.
Davis
Wind will process applications through the process, from preapplication meetings
with BLM to ensure conformance with BLM objectives and procedures. Public and
private services include identidying and discussing:
• Potential issues and conflict areas,
• Environmental or cultural resource studies that may be needed,
• Public interest and concerns, identify other authorized uses,
• Other general recreation and public uses in the area, and
• Potential alternative site locations and related financial obligations that the applicant must be willing to assume.
Early public notification and involvement of local communities and other interests
is also important in increasing public acceptance and avoiding potential conflicts,
especially in areas where other uses exist on the public lands.
