tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post5386254163870999233..comments2024-03-28T00:15:16.769-07:00Comments on Mojave Desert Blog: CEC Staff Recommends Against Ridgecrest Solar Power ProjectShaun G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17039896758011526968noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-68168315672419744192010-05-08T17:27:51.730-07:002010-05-08T17:27:51.730-07:00You're right Thomas. No site is perfect. And ...You're right Thomas. No site is perfect. And we need to break free from our dependence on oil. But that does not mean we need to rush bulldozers into our open space. Solar energy harvesting does not have to mean rigid troughs of mirrors for endless miles -- it can be a versatile form of energy generation and power from the sun can be collected anywhere from rooftops, to parking lots and highway medians. Yes, some of the Mojave will be lost to industrial-scale solar energy sites. But there is enough knowledge and options out there that afford us the luxury of placing these sites in parts of the Mojave that are less important to the overall health of the ecosystem. The Ridgecrest site is not one of those places, unlike the Beacon solar site or even the Abengoa solar site, which are proposed for former agricultural land.Shaun G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17039896758011526968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-74138932049470433242010-05-01T20:02:11.502-07:002010-05-01T20:02:11.502-07:00It occurs to me there isn't a single site on t...It occurs to me there isn't a single site on this planet that would be free of environmental concerns. It is imperative that we free ourselves from the bonds of foreign oil. The best options we have at the moment are Solar and Wind Energy and they must be implement in areas that have a lot of sun and wind respectively. The Indian Well Valley has a lot of sun, more than I care to experience. While it may not be the best location from an environmentalist stand point it is a great location to catch as much of the suns rays as possible. Don't get me wrong I'm rather fond of the Desert Tortoise, just last week I had an encounter with one in the Rademacher Hills south of Ridgecrest, but with Co2 levels rising and global temperatures along with it how long do you think it will be before it will be too hot and dry in the IWV for the Tortoise to survive?Thomas R.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-79479353870779478752010-03-30T20:15:36.970-07:002010-03-30T20:15:36.970-07:00definitely some good news -- let's hope the st...definitely some good news -- let's hope the staff recommendation persuades the presiding member. Keep up the advocacy in the meantime, since we still have evidentiary hearings in this process, and more solar projects proposed for the Mojave -- some in good locations and others the result of bad siting decisions (just like Ridgecrest Solar Power Project!)Shaun G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17039896758011526968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-59108538696182112992010-03-29T21:06:53.817-07:002010-03-29T21:06:53.817-07:00Yeah, some common sense actually may apply! The So...Yeah, some common sense actually may apply! The Solar Millennium Plan was so lacking of reality as to be absurd. 30' foot wind fences, trucked in propane only 8% higher than piped NG, that graded, de-vegetated 80% compacted clay loaded soil would have more water retention than natural, etc. Did the lady even think a little about the gazillion little ant hills and kangaroo rat burros that suck all that water up? Not to mention the extra 2% sunlight would be burnt up by heating the transmission lines. As far as wild life there was a lot lacking, transitory bob-cat and sierra wildfire displaced birds of prey etc. Hope this thinking will last, I was think that the big O was going to force this down our throats like heath care. <br />Hopefully this area can be used/protected as a mitigation for other solar projects!Tom W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-78767804799862648242010-03-29T20:26:58.262-07:002010-03-29T20:26:58.262-07:00Finally some great news. Excellent news, thanks ve...Finally some great news. Excellent news, thanks very much for posting this. Speaking for myself only, it seems lately the only news out of Sacramento has been bad: for the Mojave and its' inhabitants, both plant and animal, this may be the start of something good.<br /><br />I really hope it is.<br /><br />Bill McdonaldMorongobillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04423986732712894214noreply@blogger.com