California Approves 663MW Calico Solar Plant
All New Fed Buildings Required LEED Gold
$2.4B More for High-Speed Rail Projects
Army Adopts New Sustainable Policy for Buildings, Lighting
FTC Requires EnergyGuide Labels for Televisions
Carbon Capture Project Seeks Carbon Storage Site
State Commission Approves Fifth California Solar Plant
On October 28, the California Energy Commission approved the 663.5 MW Calico Solar Project in San Bernardino County - the seventh California solar power plant in the past two months.
Calico Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of Tessera Solar, is developing the project on 4,613 acres of land managed by the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management in the Mojave Desert. The project will use solar dish Stirling systems, or "SunCatchers." Construction will require a peak workforce of 700; project operation will require another 180 solar jobs.
Since August, the Commission has licensed 3,492.5 MW of solar in the California desert. The Calico project is the fifth commercial solar project permitted on U.S. federal public land. It's size was reduced from 850 MW on 8,230 acres to minimize its environmental impact, primarily on the desert tortoise. To qualify for federal stimulus funds, projects have to be approved by the Commission before December 31, 2010. See the California Energy Commission press release.
GSA Moves to LEED Gold Standard for All New Federal Buildings
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is upgrading the requirement for new federal building construction from LEED Silver to LEED Gold certification. The new requirement will also apply to substantial renovation projects.
The higher rating will be reflected in GSA's Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service by year end. Projects funded prior to FY 2010 that are already in the design phase will be encouraged to upgrade to LEED Gold, based on budget and schedule constraints. See the GSA press release and Sustainable Design Program Web site.
DOT Boosts High-Speed Rail Projects with $2.4 Billion
On October 28, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) named 54 high-speed rail projects in 23 states selected for a second round of funding for high-speed intercity passenger rail service. Projects will receive $2.4 billion to continue developing the first nationwide program.
DOT's Federal Railroad Administration received 132 applications from 32 states totaling $8.8 billion, more than three times the $2.4 billion available for this funding cycle. During the first round of awards in the fall of 2009, applicants submitted more than $55 billion in project proposals for the initial $8 billion from the Recovery Act.
Funding will go toward building track and stations, purchasing passenger equipment, and completing planning studies to develop new high-speed rail service, among others.
California received about $901 million, including $715 million for construction of new high-speed rail lines in the Central Valley. Florida received $800 million for the Tampa to Orlando high-speed rail corridor, part of a planned line linking Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and other communities.
More than 30 rail manufacturers and suppliers, both domestic and foreign, have agreed to establish or expand their bases of operations in the US if they are hired to build next generation high-speed lines. See the
DOT press release and DOT's
full list of award selections .
