Even as observers celebrate signs of the solar industry’s maturation (acquisitions by major players, rapid increases in investment in and production of photovoltaics), today the New York Times and the Economist report that, late in May, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management halted the development of new solar on public lands in six southwestern states until environmental impact studies are completed. The BLM will conduct a “region-wide” assessment estimated to take about two years (with the hope of accelerating consideration of future applications), while at the same time requiring individual impact studies for applications (nearly 130) received prior to the May 29 moratorium. 

While this didn’t hit most people’s radar — including Nevada Senator Harry Reid’s – until this week, the Las Vegas Sun had an early line on the story, although their May 30 news item doesn’t specificially mention a halt on new developments. The Sun’s June 18 story is more strongly worded, and captures some industry reaction. Early this week, even before we bloggers began blogging about it, the Sun seemed to hint that the BLM’s moratorium isn’t written in stone:

As for the decision itself, <the BLM’s Linda> Resseguie said “it was a BLM decision, but the Department (of the Interior) was consulted.”

“As far as discussing or debating the merits of a freeze with the congressional delegation before we took that administrative action, I am fairly certain that did not occur,” Resseguie said.

She said it is possible the BLM would reconsider the freeze.

“Policies can always be influenced,” she said.

Senator Reid’s statement is here. He seems to be the only Senator from one of the affected states (California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado) to have made a statement so far.