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Barriers and Challenges to Developing Renewable Energy Projects . Eric R. Bjorkman Sustainable Energy Conference 2010 Powering Idaho's Future. Overview of Project Development Issues. Site Selection and Acquisition Permitting & Approvals Financing
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Barriers and Challenges to Developing RenewableEnergy Projects Eric R. Bjorkman Sustainable Energy Conference 2010 Powering Idaho's Future
Overview of Project Development Issues • Site Selection and Acquisition • Permitting & Approvals • Financing • Power Sales / Transmission /Interconnection Agreements • Construction / Infrastructure • Operation and Maintenance Agreements
Site Selection Issues • Availability of the Resource • Transmission to the Grid • Regulatory Approvals • Public Opposition/Support • Environmental Constraints
Site Selection – Location of resources • Wind, geothermal, biomass and solar resources are limited to specific geographic areas.
Site Selection – U.S. Wind Resources Source: www. http://www.nrel.gov/gis/
Site Selection – U.S. Solar Resources Source: http://www.nrel.gov/gis/
Site Selection – U.S. Geothermal Resources Source: http://www.nrel.gov/gis/
Site Selection – U.S. Biomass Resources Source: http://www.nrel.gov/gis/
Site Acquisition Issues • Fee, Lease or Combination • Private • State • Federal • Access issues • Lines and substations • Roads
Siting & Permitting Bodies • Federal • State • Local
Federal Permits & Approvals • Federal Permits or Approvals Required? • Federal nexus • Federal lands • Accessing federally owned transmission lines • Regulatory nexus (e.g., jurisdictional waters, incidental take, etc.)
State Permits & Approvals • No state facility siting authority in Idaho • State considerations / requirements • Stream Channel Alteration Permit • Well Drilling Permit • Electrical Permit • Over Legal Load Limit Permit • Aeronautics Permit • Air Quality Permit • Water Rights
Local Permits & Approvals • Comp Plan/Zoning • SUP • Construction permits
Legal Challenges to Renewable Projects • Environmental challenges can be made to any renewable technology • Wind: Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act • Solar: Large area requirements invite ESA and Environmental Impact Statement challenges • Geothermal: Waste water and underground injection issues