Salazar writes of energy initiative

DES MOINES, Iowa, July 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar Friday announced an initiative for renewable energy projects on land controlled by his department.

"Four tracts of land in southern Colorado and two dozen tracts across six Western states may soon be supplying American homes with clean, renewable electricity from the first large-scale solar power projects on our nation's public lands," Salazar wrote in a Des Moines Register op-ed piece published July 19.

Salazar joined three other Cabinet members in writing similar columns after they testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack each wrote about his or her area of expertise, a press release from the White House said.

"It is time that Washington step up to the plate, just as states like Colorado and local governments are already doing." Salazar wrote

"Congress must pass strong and effective legislation that will steer our nation toward a clean energy economy that creates new jobs and improves our energy security," he said.