Solar Energy Meeting Planned for Barstow

By Desert Dispatch, Barstow, Calif.

Jun. 17–BARSTOW — A meeting for the development of a six state solar energy plan will take place in Barstow Tuesday evening.

Plans for the Solar Energy Development Programmatic and a corresponding environmental impact statement will be shared at the meeting, said Joan Patrovsky, a realty specialist at Barstow’s Bureau of Land Management office. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on 220 East Mountain View Street. The public is invited to make comments.

The Solar Energy Development Programmatic is a comprehensive solar energy plan for six western states, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. Patrovsky said the BLM, which is participating in the programmatic with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy and Department of the Interior, has seen an increase in the number of applications to build solar energy facilities on public lands.

The environmental impact statement will study the effect of the large scale facilities on the surrounding areas. Patrovsky said the program is in its infancy and Tuesday’s meeting is a first step. A draft of the impact statement will not be ready for several months, Patrovsky said.

Another public meeting on the project was held in Riverside on Monday. Other meetings are scheduled throughout the west

in June and July.

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Copyright (c) 2008, Desert Dispatch, Barstow, Calif.

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