Cross-posted from EcoGeek

After the ridiculous announcement that the BLM (the agency that regulates all of America's sunniest lands) wouldn't be able to approve applications for solar development for a full 22 months, there was significant public outcry. Today, in response to that outcry, the BLM is lifting the moratorium. YAY!

Now, there are two ways that we could see this announcement:

1. The BLM is going to devote more of its staff to the approval process for solar applications
2. The BLM was strong armed by the administration to not do something so obvious as actually calling for a moratorium but, instead, just process the applications really slowly with the same meager staff as before.

The sad thing is that lifting the moratorium doesn't actually solve the problem that the BLM has 10x more work to do now than they did before the solar boom. What the need is more staff...and more staff who are trained in approving solar projects, not just oil, gas and cattle projects (the only thing that the BLM ever did before solar caught on.)

Let's hope that this is more than just a change in wording and actually a change in policy. We'll certainly have our ears open for news of approvals...or delays.