WREZ -- Environment and Lands Work Group

Overview
The WREZ Environment and Lands Work Group is responsible for:

• Categorizing the development potential of Renewable Energy Zones based on environmental, land use, and wildlife criteria in Phase 1 of the WREZ process.
• Identifying policies and best practices to facilitate development in sensitive areas.
• Recommending criteria for siting generation and routing transmission to the zones.

The Environment and Lands Work Group worked closely with the Western Governors Wildlife Council (WGWC), a group of state fish and wildlife agency representatives responsible for leading the regional mapping effort to identify important wildlife habitat and sensitive ecosystems.

Information about the E&L work group is included in the WREZ Phase 1 report, but additional details on the group’s work can be found in the E&L Phase 1 report

Membership
Work group membership has been limited to ensure participation from a balanced stakeholder group and to maintain a manageable size. Conference calls and meetings are open to the public and interested parties are welcome to sign-up as observers. A participant list of current work group members as well as a list of observers.

Public Comment
For details on the E&L documents available during the January 2009 public comment period, comments received, and responses from the work group, visit the public comment web site.

Work Products

• Exclusion areas
• Initial Avoidance Areas
• Exclusion & Initial Avoidance Summary List
• Significant Areas of Consideration

Past Meetings

Joint E&L Work Group and StateTask Group Meeting
March 11-12
agenda -- summary

Joint E&L Work Group and StateTask Group Meeting
December 10 – 11, Denver, CO
agenda -- summary

Joint Workshop with Zone Identification and Technology Analysis Work Group
September 22-23, Denver, CO
agenda -- documents -- summary (E&L breakout) -- summary (ZITA breakout & joint session)