Feinstein Seeks to Block Solar Power From Desert Land

[MountainDon]

   

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.

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[tanya]

500,000 acres of donated conservation land is not the place for power grid company power generating stations.  It is true that the landscape would be changed and not used for it's intended purpose.  Perhpas the state of CA should consider using a more suitable site or empowering the people of Ca to generate their own power via rooftop panels and wind turbines.  Or maybe the power grid co's should buy thier own land for their power farms instead of trying to get land that was donated for the use of everyone, not just energy money grubbers.  Byt he way powr co's are right up there with bad politicians in my book.  I pay more in power bills than I do for food, and my power bill is close to half what my rent costs.  AND we have hydroelectric power generated by taxpayer bought and paid for dams.  Energy is one industry that needs regulation right along with the banks. 

[bobtheengineer]

If you are complaining about your power prices now, just wait until the Democratically controlled Congress gets done with it.  It might even be more than you rent.  Regulation?  Lots of states already regulate power companies.  The simple fact is, the more regulations imposed on the companies, the more the power will cost.  Carbon Tax, go ahead, the power companies will pony up and pay the tax, with your money.  I'm thinking desert land can be gotten for little to nothing, if the government would let them.  Most of the desert land is already owned by the Federal Government.  Build huge solar array's, fine, but the government is going to have to pony up the land.

[MountainDon]

I agree Bob. The next stumbling block would be the transmission lines.

[cordwood]

 I remember when the tree huger alliance set out foam turtles to document the dangers of free range cattle on the  desert tortoise,.......Anybody here ever spent a few days in the desert?......When the WIND finally died down their little foam turtles where miles away piled up against a ranchers fence!  
I personally don't believe public land should be used by commercial interests but there is plenty of desert out there to put up "MORE" solar plants to go with the ones that are already out there.
As for the transmission lines,....There are already miles of lines criss crossing the desert. I have ridden for days on motorcycles and buggies down power line roads from the Cajon pass to Pahrump.