USA, California:

Major Changes in Store for Desert Renewable Energy Plan (The Desert Sun)

Regulators to focus on 10 million acres of federal land in California desert

Officials are putting the brakes on parts of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, in response to serious objections from county governments that could undermine the unprecedented clean energy plan.

The plan covers 22.5 million acres of California desert, and it has long been seen as critical to meeting California's ambitious climate goals. It would designate several million acres as renewable energy zones, where development would be encouraged, while setting aside millions more acres for conservation and recreation.

But renewable energy companies and environmental groups have raised major concerns about the draft document released in September, saying that it's confusingly written and that they aren't sure whether it will help or hurt solar, wind and geothermal development. County governments have worried the draft plan places too heavy a burden on private land, rather than emphasizing development and conservation on public land.

Officials responded to those concerns on Tuesday, announcing they will launch the plan in two phases — the first dealing with public lands, the second dealing with private lands.

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