The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has seen a 78 percent jump in the number of solar energy project applications since it started to accept applications again in mid-2008 or so.

According to greentechmedia.com, the number of applications has risen to 223 from 125. The applicants are vying to build solar power plants that are 10 megawatts or larger in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado, according to the BLM data provided by Andrew Malone in the agency's public affairs office. It added that in all, these projects would occupy 2.3 million acres.

Overall, there are 107 applications for the BLM land in California, 71 applications in Nevada and 35 in Arizona. New Mexico, Utah and Colorado make up the rest.

Significantly, the report, attributing a quote to John Geesman, a former member of the California Energy Commission and the current co-counsel of the American Council on Renewable Energy, mentioned that there is always a sharp fallout between the application stage and when a plant can be successfully permitted, designed and built.

Recently, it was mentioned that BrightSource is facing a possible regulatory delay and has been attending hearings on how to streamline the approval process. BrightSource's solar project is one of the first in line to seek approval from the BLM, so there is a lot of new territory to cover, and both the CEC and BLM are resource constrained.

When questioned about the same, the company recently told CSPToday.com: "All of the parties involved in the regulatory process are equally committed to bringing more renewable resources online and protecting the desert's natural heritage. In late October, the CEC commissioners approved a plan to have the review process for our first 100 MW plant at the Ivanpah site completed by Fall 2009.  This is right in line with our schedule with our first 100 MW project at Ivanpah, which includes beginning construction in Fall 2009."