June 18, 2008

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) moratorium on new applications to develop solar power plants, which could delay development by close to two years:

“This notice of intent is the wrong signal to send to solar power developers, and to Nevadans and Westerners who need and want clean, affordable sun-powered electricity soon.  While the BLM’s proposed delay won’t affect developers with existing applications, it could discourage or slow new development to a crawl.   

“This administration should be reprogramming funds urgently so BLM can complete its regulations and work through its application backlog.  Right now, the administration’s misplaced higher priority seems to be aimed at fossil fuels.  That’s not good for Nevada or for the nation.   

“I am looking into this situation to determine what can be done to accelerate solar power development without delay.  The federal government should be doing all it can to help develop solar power and the supporting transmission infrastructure in Nevada and the Southwest.”

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