Potential geothermal lease sale in Colorado
Black Canyon near Gunnison, Colorado (source: flickr/ JWSherman, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
30 May 2010
BLM is considering a geothermal lease sale of public land near Gunnison, Colorado.
Reported from Colorado/ U.S., “Federal land managers are considering opening up two pieces of public land near Gunnison for geothermal development. The move could set the stage for a battle between environmentalists and renewable energy advocates.
Currently no land has been leased for geothermal energy development in Colorado. In fact, the Bureau of Land Management recently put on hold a plan to lease some prized pieces of public land north of Salida, amid stiff opposition from local landowners.
Land managers say they’re sensitive to what could be a similar controversy brewing to the southwest near the town of Gunnison. The roughly 9,000 acres up for consideration lie near a popular hot springs. But they also lie within an area that’s considered critical habitat for the Gunnison sage grouse – a bird that could soon be listed on the Endangered Species Act. The BLM is launching an environmental impact study on the plan, and has a public meeting scheduled for early next month. A public comment period runs through June 24th.”
Source: Public Broadcasting
