tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post2916014943848327740..comments2024-03-28T00:15:16.769-07:00Comments on Mojave Desert Blog: Ridgecrest Solar Site: Ivanpah of the West Mojave?Shaun G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17039896758011526968noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-44200522557157990302010-02-27T14:57:36.291-08:002010-02-27T14:57:36.291-08:00Thanks for the clarification, Kevin. It certainly...Thanks for the clarification, Kevin. It certainly does not seem to be in keeping with democratic principles if the CEC feels it must rush to meet arbitrary deadlines. The Federal government put the cart before the horse in its attempt to incent renewable energy development with financial backing before it has even finished its solar energy development study areas, where such construction could be at least concentrated in areas deemed to have relatively less impact on the Mojave Desert ecosystem. Hence the chaotic "gold rush" for any open desert land. Perhaps Congress or even the executive branch could look into extending the deadline so that at least CEC could carry out more thorough investigations of the impacts on each site and give the public a better opportunity to voice its opinion instead of being muffled by Washington's cash.Shaun G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17039896758011526968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-6161561751472070112010-02-26T06:04:37.343-08:002010-02-26T06:04:37.343-08:00Oops: The last comment was also from Kevin Emmeric...Oops: The last comment was also from Kevin Emmerich, Basin and Range Watch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-50101038676766838992010-02-26T06:01:45.169-08:002010-02-26T06:01:45.169-08:00Yes, the ARRA funding deadline is one of the prima...Yes, the ARRA funding deadline is one of the primary problems with large scale energy development. Even the applicants for most renewable projects have been complaining about this deadline. The deadline was crafted in a far away land where the reality of the actual region was never even considered, let alone understood.<br /><br />However, why not use the ARRA deadline as an opportunity? The question is, can we push approval past 2010? Politically speaking, it seems like a done deal, but there is still language that states that applicants must resolve conflicts before they can be approved. As we all know, these conflicts are not even close to being resolved. In the case of Ridgecrest, NOBODY wants this project but the applicant and a few politicians in Sacramento and DC who are clueless to the issues. We will be taking on the Ridgecrest Solar Project to the end...<br />p.s. thanks for covering this one too! and keep it up, the investors of these projects look on the Internet to see how feasible they are. I sure would never invest money in one of these projects.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-53911731186033281272010-02-25T17:18:49.600-08:002010-02-25T17:18:49.600-08:00Thanks Kevin. In the transcripts for the ISEGS hea...Thanks Kevin. In the transcripts for the ISEGS hearing I think it became evident that in BrightSource's case they needed to start construction by the end of the year in order to qualify for government financial backing. I imagine the same is the case for Ridgecrest.Shaun G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17039896758011526968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-79143577388047205392010-02-25T07:04:48.085-08:002010-02-25T07:04:48.085-08:00The Ridgecrest power plant proposal seems to be pr...The Ridgecrest power plant proposal seems to be proving that democracy is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Who does the CEC and BLM work for? On the confernece call considering scheduling yesterday, we found out that both the BLM and the CEC are bending over backwards to approve this by November of this year! The BLM said that they would really push for only a 30 day comment period after the DEIS over a 90 day comment period. Again, the public gets screwed. Consider that 99 percent of the people who live in Ridgecrest oppose the project due to extreme water use, obvious visual impacts, blocked access to private property, threats to Mojave ground squirrell and desert tortoise, impacts to cultural sites, etc..<br /><br />We asked that all deadlines be extended and all hearings and workshops be held in Ridgecrest over Sacramento.<br /><br />You can still submit comments. The CEC asked for comments on the call yesterday.<br /><br />Kevin Emmerich<br />Basin and Range WatchAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com