Posted by Tina
Feinstein: Don’t Spoil Our Desert With Solar Panels FOX News
** WASHINGTON — California’s Mojave Desert may seem ideally suited for solar energy production, but concern over what several proposed projects might do to the aesthetics of the region and its tortoise population is setting up a potential clash between conservationists and companies seeking to develop renewable energy. *** Nineteen companies have submitted applications to build solar or wind facilities on a parcel of 500,000 desert acres, but Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Friday such development would violate the spirit of what conservationists had intended when they donated much of the land to the public. *** Feinstein said Friday she intends to push legislation that would turn the land into a national monument, which would allow for existing uses to continue while preventing future development. *** The Wildlands Conservancy orchestrated the government’s purchase of the land between 1999-2004. It negotiated a discount sale from the real estate arm of the former Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroad and then contributed $40 million to help pay for the purchase. David Myers, the conservancy’s executive director, said the solar projects would do great harm to the region’s desert tortoise population. *** “It would destroy the entire Mojave Desert ecosystem,” said David Myers, executive director of The Wildlands Conservancy. **
Ecology of the western pond turtle in the Mojave River
** The western pond turtle Clemmys marmorata is protected by the State of California and recent surveys have confirmed that many populations have been extirpated or are declining, particularly in southern California. Threats to the continued survival of the species include habitat modification/destruction, grazing, commercial harvest, vehicle-related mortalities, and competition from exotic species. Over 90 percent of the wetland habitats within the historic range of the species in California have been eliminated due to agricultural development, flood control and water diversion projects, and urbanization. **
Planned Mojave Solar Park will be the largest of its kind in the world.
** Pacific Gas and Electric made its second deal of the week today, agreeing to buy 553 megawatts of solar power from Solel Solar Systems’ planned Mojave Solar Park. *** The solar thermal project will deliver enough power to supply 400,000 homes in northern and central California when it is fully operational. *** The solar thermal park won’t be ready until 2011. It’s to cover up to 6,000 acres, or nine square miles, in the Mojave Desert, relying on 1.2 million mirrors and 317 miles of vacuum tubing. *** Solel is to break ground on the project in mid 2009. **
Environmental activist and lawyers helped to put logging companies out of business over concerns for the spotted owl. Coal and oil companies are likewise threatened over similar esthetic and environmental concerns. I will be very interested to see how this conundrum is resolved as activists and lawyers manage this very delicate balancing act.