Advice provided by: Claire Moloney, LEED Green Associate, Cornell University

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Vote Solar, a solar advocacy nonprofit group, recently surveyed citizens of California’s desert communities to assess their attitudes toward solar energy development. The counties polled included Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

Four-fifths of respondents believed that the California desert should be used for solar power projects because it is a good resource. In fact, the majority of those polled were concerned about global warming, and two-thirds believe that California and the federal government should provide financial incentives for solar development.

Jim Baak, the Director of Utility-Scale Policy for Vote Solar, said:
"A majority of California's desert citizens clearly believe that solar power is an important piece of our state's overall clean energy portfolio. Along with rooftop solar, energy efficiency, wind and geothermal power, smart grid and the other pieces of a modern electrical system, these utility-scale solar power plants are critical to addressing the very real threat of climate change and fueling new economic growth in the state."

Solar Energy Projects on Public Land

These findings are important considering legislation that will develop solar energy on public lands. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandated that the U.S. Department of Interior approve at least 10,000 megawatts of non-hydropower renewable energy projects (including solar) on public lands by 2015.

After accepting comments and recommendations from the public and experts in the conservation and solar energy industries, the Department of Energy (DOE) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) co-released a comprehensive plan designed to provide guidance for large solar energy projects on public land.

In late October, the agencies published a supplement to the draft "Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States." The document is intended to provide solar energy providers and land developers with a road map on how to proceed with those developments, some of which may take place on protected lands or areas with sensitive ecological conditions.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released statements from a handful of industry experts praising the proposed approach. That includes delineating solar energy zones, specific areas in which solar energy may make the greatest impact without harming local wildlife or environmental stability.

According to Solar Industry Magazine, the Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management issued a notice of proposed rule-making this month, which is the first step in creating a competitive process for leasing solar and wind projects on these public lands.

PV Projects and Green Jobs

While Obama administration officials have worked to define the specifics surrounding solar energy zones, a number of solar-powered developments on public land have already been approved. In July, the Department of the Interior announced its approval of four separate solar energy projects located in ecologically sensitive areas of California and Arizona.

All told, those projects will create more than 1,300 green jobs, the department said in a press release. The positions created may include solar energy jobs in both installation and design.

Professional Accreditation for Solar Energy Jobs

Individuals who want to work on similar projects can improve their prospects for employment through accreditation programs.

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) offers specific certification for photovoltaic (PV) installers, PV technical sales and solar heating installers. Also, NABCEP offers an entry-level program, which demonstrates that individuals who want to enter the solar field have a basic knowledge of PV and solar heating installation and design.

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