First Public Auction for Solar Energy Rights on Federal Land

         Federal officials are trying to figure out why the Bureau of Land Management's first-ever auction of public land for solar-energy development failed to attract any bids. According to the Denver Post, no bidders showed up for the first auction for three parcels of land in Colorado's San Luis Valley, even though five solar development companies had expressed interest in the land.
        Three parcels covering 3,700 acres in so-called solar-energy zones were offered on Thursday, October 24. The bureau has created 19 zones for large solar projects in 6 Western states, encompassing nearly 300,000 acres, the newspaper reported. "We are going to have to regroup and figure out what didn't work," Maryanne Kurtinaitis, the renewable-energy program manager for the BLM's Colorado division, told the Denver Post. "It is always tough to be the first out of the chute. This is a learning experience."
       Even though the auction's results seem to be pretty bleak, good news is on the horizon. The Obama administration continues to make it a priority to promote solar energy development as part of its energy strategy. Since 2009, the Interior Department has approved 47 renewable energy projects on public lands, including 25 solar facilities, 10 wind farms and 12 geothermal plants.

Solar-Powered Clothing made of Natural Fibers

     Designers at Colorado State University at work in designing and developing solar-powered clothes from natural fibers that holds the ability to charge a variety of devices, including phones, tablets, and GPS units. Professor Eulanda Sanders and associate professor Ajoy Sarkar in CSU's department of design and merchandising, as well as four of their students, are making prototypes for solar-charging apparel that can be worn while biking, snowboarding, skiing or hiking.
     Clothing with solar panels have been done before so the concept of it is not amazing as it was perceived before, but they usually rely on petroleum-based materials rather than natural fibers. A prime example would be seen in California-based Silvrlining's GO Solar Power Collection, which puts solar power into microsuede clothing. While certainly looking fashionable, the director's jacket alone amounts to a total of $1,180.
    Instead of the traditional standard of making clothing relying on petroleum-based materials, Sanders and Sarkar have the desire to produce clothes from cotton and linen that are safe and strong enough to handle the elements. According to the university, the group was able to modify natural materials to make them more durable. From that procedure, they continue on to incorporating flexible solar panels within the apparel. Their goal with these greener clothes is ultimately to make solar clothing not only comfortable and fashionable, but also to be highly functional and easy to clean.