DesertBlog

More on the industrialization of our deserts

On July10th, in El Centro California in the Imperial Valley, Washington D.C. Staff from the Bureau of Land Management and the Department of Energy held a public scoping meeting on their desert-wide planning process for industrial-size solar development throughout the desert southwest. Between 50 and 60 individuals showed up, and although a dozen presented oral comments at the hearing, only 2 of the speakers were in favor of the desert-wide plans to install mega-solar facilities in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. One of those in favor was a representative from the Sterling Energy Company which proposes to install 12,000 mirrors on 6,000 acres of public land, adjacent to an off-road vehicle open area, just east of the tiny town of Ocotillo. Nearly all who spoke stated their support for keeping current BLM resource protection plans in place. Many of these wildlife protection plans were achieved through hard-fought battles with corporations and the motorized recreation industry and people do not want these protections weakened. Folks spoke of the importance of respecting the integrity of the beleaguered desert ecosystem and its many endangered plant and animal residents. They also spoke out for protection of the community character and quality of life of the humans who make their homes in the desert. A number of these proposed projects would pose a threat to desert air quality, dark skies and unspoiled view sheds. Nearly every one of the citizens who testified spoke in favor of developing production of renewable energy within and close to the huge urban centers where the energy is consumed.

Meanwhile,citizen groups and small grass-roots non-profits from all corners of the California desert are beginning to mobilize and form a united coalition to promote locally generated solar power and to inform the nation-wide media and the public of the folly of targeting our precious desert natural heritage for industrial energy development using solar technology that is rapidly being eclipsed in efficiency and cost-effectiveness by revolutionary developments with thin film photovoltaic technology and using 20th century transmission infrastructure. More about the California Desert grassroots mobilization in my next post.

Terry Weiner