SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's 17,700 acres of federally-proposed solar energy zones represent the nation's "sweet spots" where development of large scale utility projects will occur, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Thursday.

A supplemental draft environmental statement has been released with modifications made as the result of more than 80,000 public comments received on the plan to designate suitable solar energy zones in six western states. The zones, which are also in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona, include 285,000 acres of federal land, or 445 square miles.

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