U.S. creates new Renewable Energy offices

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- New U.S. Renewable Energy Coordination Offices will speed renewable development on public lands.

Outgoing U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne authorized the Bureau of Land Management to establish offices that will expedite renewable energy development on the National System of Public Lands.

The offices will also focus on developing electrical transmission to deliver the energy to nearby towns and cities.

According to Kempthorne's plans, the Renewable Energy Coordination Offices will be staffed by BLM employees and employees from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The offices will be located in Arizona, California, Nevada and Wyoming.

Kempthorne also designated about 6,000 miles of land in 11 states as energy transport corridors. The land will be used for both transmission and production.