In the Zone – Powering the Future and Protecting Wildlands with Guided Solar Development

Utah’s expansive deserts are known for clear skies and abundant sunshine, providing rich resources for clean, renewable energy from solar projects. In particular, the proposed Milford Flats South Solar Energy Zone (SEZ), 12 miles south of Milford and 28 miles north of Cedar City, stands out as an exceptional area for solar development. Based on available data, it could be developed with minimal environmental conflicts.

The sun shines so strongly on the proposed Milford Flats South SEZ that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) classifies the solar resource as excellent, its highest rating. Nearby Highways 21 and 130 allow for easy access for construction, and existing transmission lines could provide a path to carry electricity to cities in the area and beyond.

The proposed Milford Flats South SEZ sits in an area that has become dominated by pig farms known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Extensive complexes of pens and manure ponds for thousands of pigs have already fragmented the surrounding area. The proposed SEZ has no conflicts with protected areas, proposed wilderness, or critical wildlife habitat. The flat landscape will keep construction costs down for various types of solar technology.

The vegetation in the proposed Milford Flats South SEZ is dominated by salt tolerant shrubs, including greasewood and shadscale, as well as invasive weeds such as Virginia pepperweed. Because this vegetation is of limited value to wildlife, the area is home to very few sensitive species. Like much of the state of Utah, the area is identified as pronghorn habitat, but potential impacts to this game species and could be addressed by project design, operations, and maintenance to avoid or reduce impacts. The identification of the proposed SEZs also presents the opportunity to identify landscape study areas that would not be developed alongside of solar development areas, to better understand the impacts of solar energy development. The proposed Milford Flats South SEZ is not prized for hiking, hunting or other recreation.

In the Zone: Utah

“By guiding solar projects to places like the Milford Flats South Solar Energy Zone, we can build the renew-able energy we need while protecting Utah’s spectacular wildlands and wildlife.”

- Jim Catlin, Executive Director Wild Utah Project

What is a solar energy zone & why is it important now?

Solar Energy Zones (SEZ) are areas priori-tized by the BLM as they work to identify lands with great energy resources and limited environmental conflicts. A major decision facing the BLM is whether solar projects will be guided to the most appropriate locations or spread scattershot across the west. The BLM will publish its draft Programmatic Environ-mental Impact Statement for solar develop-ment in December 2010 and finalize the plan over the next year. With input from the many people with a stake in our western landscape, we know the BLM can make the right choice and put solar energy In the Zone.

PROPOSED MILFORD FLATS SOLAR ENERGY ZONE: UTAH

Benefits for Utah’s Economy, Wildlands &

Clean Energy FutureGuiding development to the most appropriate places, like the proposed Mil-ford Flats South SEZ, can ensure that solar projects are built quickly, efficiently and at the lowest cost to the environment and consumers. The BLM will con-tinue to refine the proposed SEZs, but based on what we know now, Milford Flats South is a good place for solar energy development for many reasons, which include:

Great Resources

• Solar potential: The area receives so much sun that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) classifies the solar resource as excellent, its highest rating.

• Flat landscape allows for cost effective construction.

• Proximity to existing roads and transmission lines: Being close to existing infrastructure speeds development and reduces impacts.

Limited Environmental Concerns

• No conflicts with protected areas, proposed wilderness, or critical wildlife habitat.

• Dominated by sparse, shrubby plants that are of low value to wildlife, including greasewood and shadscale, as well as invasive weeds such as Virginia pepperweed.

• Disturbance from existing and planned large-scale pig feeding operations further decreases the habitat value of the area.

• Very low level of wildlife conflicts in the proposed SEZ. Potential impacts to pronghorn habitat, as well as possible indirect impacts to sensitive species that may live nearby, such as the dark kangaroo mouse, burrowing owl and greater sage grouse, could be addressed by project design, operations, and maintenance to avoid or reduce impacts.

• Depending on the availability of water, low water use solar technologies may be most appropriate for this area.

• Helping meet state renewable energy goals − Utah has a goal of 20% renewable energy by 2025;

• Protecting sensitive lands by ensuring development only occurs in appropriate areas;

• Increasing economic opportunities through generating tax revenue, creating green jobs for project construction and operations, and developing a market for associated service industries; and

• Providing clean power to reduce carbon emissions and help pre- serve the future of wildlands across the globe, the plants and wildlife they sustain, our planet and ourselves!

Photos: © Jon Belak

In the Zone:Proposed Milford Flats Solar Energy Zone

For further information, contact Alex Daue at 303-650-5818 ext. 108