The Mojave Desert – last seen on our virtual pages when the SpaceShipTwo was unveiled – has leapt into the news again today, thanks to Senator Dianne Feinstein’s legislation which will stop 13 solar plants and wind turbines from moving in.
It’ll certainly be a hindrance to California’s plans of generating a third of their electricity from the renewable energy made from the million acres that had been slated for the ecofriendly wind-traps. Feinstein’s reason for blocking the move is due to the national monuments which were promised to the area a decade ago, the land having been donated by an environmental group.
Sure, solar farms don’t exactly add much to the beautiful scenery of the Mojave Desert, but I remember seeing on a road trip between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe earlier this year the most amazing collection of windmills – I was awed. It’d be a sad day if Feinstein manages to get her legislation passed, but on the other hand, I can very much appreciate wanting to protect such important land. A million acres, though – surely we can come to some sort of compromise? [NYT]
Image Credit: Lassi.Kurkijavi
The Joker
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 7:17 AMDid I miss something here…..the land was donated by an environmental group for crying out loud. Surely that makes it the perfect site for environmentally friendly energy solutions.
matt
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 10:38 AMits a… desert…
well, I’m glad the senator likes deserts so much, because we will be seeing a lot more of them!
Casey Verdant
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 12:53 PMSen. Feinstein’s bill to create Mojave Desert monuments ruins the prospect of subtle, non-invasive solar projects on federal lands. Solar farms could easily and inoffensively be placed on these lands without affecting native species.
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Adios
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 6:05 PMAdios.
We went to Mexico, took it all with us.
Fainstain can not say bunde ba there.
One of many to follow solar boys.
BillClintoonn
Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 2:31 AMTypical left wing crap. It’s a 22,000 square mile desert. Can’t we take a few square miles and make a few solar stations? The global warming movement is such complete BS. Don’t build nuclear. Don’t put windmills off Mass. Don’t put solar in the Mojave. What a complete crock.
Glen Bruton
Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 8:20 AMdid this ever pass?
Aaron
Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 3:45 PMstupid B****
I guess she would rather keep drilling for oil in impossible locations for more disasters. I don’t think solar panels are ugly at all. I think they are actually nice to look at because I know they are clean (once they are built).