New Google Earth Layer Shows What US Lands Should Be Off-Limits to Renewable Energy Development

[bananas]

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/new-google-earth-layer-shows-what-us-lands-should-be-off-limits-renewable-energy-development.php

New Google Earth Layer Shows What US Lands Should Be Off-Limits to Renewable Energy Development

<snip>

One interesting thing it the short time I've had to play around with the layer is that the difference between lands which are already off-limits (for whatever reason) and those which NRDC and Audubon lists as should be off-limits is quite small. Preserving these lands on the grounds of wildlife conservation really doesn't diminish the amount of land on which we could develop renewable energy significantly.

<snip>

[On the Road]

1. I Thought That a Lot of the Nature Conservancy

species mapping showed high concentrations of endangered species in riparian areas -- around streams and rivers, which would normally not be the flat prarie or desert areas most suitable for wind farms. So that would make sense.

[NYC_SKP]

2. So, nothing offshore?

Am I reading that correctly?

I would support, at least, research projects offshore for wind, ocean current, wave, or combined projects.

[kristopher]

3. A question

I don't have high speed so I can't check this myself. You wrote "lands which are already off-limits (for whatever reason)". Then you remark that the addition of their recommendations makes little difference from that baseline.

Is there anything else about the baseline off limits areas? That seems like it is a pretty important point.

As a broader comment, this is input from 2 groups with specific missions. I don't think it is reasonable to expect their proposals will be accepted in toto. There are bound to be cases where conflicts arise. For example transmission corridors are extremely expensive to divert. In general, however, this approach works well to facilitate planning.

[bananas]

4. I was quoting the Treehugger article

I only took a quick look at it.
Seems like most of Nevada is open,
but California has a lot of protected areas.

[excess_3]

5. Google decides this? I don't remember voting for these ...

Google decides this? I don't remember voting for these
turds one way or the other.

[Nihil]

6. Reading helps ...

> Google decides this? I don't remember voting for these
> turds one way or the other.

No, Google doesn't decide this - Google simply *shows* this.

As the snip in the OP showed ...
>> those which NRDC and Audubon lists as should be off-limits

Mind you, I guess you didn't vote for the NRDC or Audubon "turds" either ...
:eyes: