As Teddy Roosevelt so fervently believed we as Americans have a responsibility to be good stewards of our environment.  Renewable energy is the future for both Southern California and our nation. The clean energy economy will provide jobs and foster the protection of our climate and natural resources.  But care must be taken to locate energy projects in appropriate places where little harm will be done to desert ecosystems, scenic vistas and sensitive wildlife habitat. The good news is that there is enough room in the region to meet these goals. Doing so will give California consumers the confidence that the energy they are buying is truly clean. Doing so will give California consumers the confidence that the energy they are buying is truly clean. There is an appropriate place for this technology in our desert lands.

Room for Conservation and Responsible Development

Our Desert parks and wilderness areas are being squeezed between two of the fastest growing regions in the country. This is our best chance to protect migration routes for wildlife, like bighorn sheep, and the recreational and historic trails that are vital for the region’s tourism economy while they are still intact.

The region also has a unique opportunity to become a leader in renewable energy and there is plenty of room for responsible development. According to California Energy Commission staff estimates, approximately 128,000 acres of land are needed to meet California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard with solar thermal energy. There are approximately 351,000 acres in the Bureau of Land Management’s Solar Energy Study Areas alone and none of that acreage will be affected by the Mojave National Monument.

Additional acres can be found by building renewable energy projects closer to cities and towns – and closer to consumers and workers. Locating energy projects here would minimize transmission lines, energy costs and commute time for employees. Projects could also be built on previously disturbed land.

Energy projects located in places where little harm will be done to desert ecosystems, scenic vistas and sensitive wildlife habitat will give consumers confidence that the energy they are buying is really clean.