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Solar Plants in Mojave Desert Could Help Conservation and Energy Needs

Solar developers are looking to the Mojave Desert for the construction of solar plants that could turn the sun’s heat into electricity.

  • Oct 19, 2012

The construction of solar plants in the Mojave Desert could help create renewable energy sources, but conservationists and Native America tribes are worried that the plants could destroy some of the area’s natural and cultural resources. The federal government has been trying to find a common ground in the conflict between the solar developers and the conservationists and tribes.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced an approval of locations in the desert where plants can and cannot be built. The approved locations are in areas that will benefit the solar industry while also protecting the most environmentally sensitive lands.

Constructing solar plants does not happen overnight. Replacing carbon-intensive power with clean, renewable power will require every possible tool. Rooftop generation and desert solar plants are both needed, along with wind farms, geothermal plants, and ocean-wave power.

Protecting threatened species is important, and so is developing clean power. It is possible to do both, and the federal plan strikes a pretty good compromise among competing interests.

Comments

Fri, Feb 1, 2013 robert dodds willowspringsmissouri

I helped start segs 1 in 1984 . The concept and the construction of the plant worked very well. One of the main problems was the Isailies takeing the monery and leaving. And the new plant managers that where in charge. Wayne Luton and side kick Dave Ocheanrider. They were only interested in showeing the emplyes how smart they are and over working the Operrators. We to work 4 days on and 4 days off; 12 hr. days. then the plant managers decided the operators needed to attented classes on our on our time off.. You 2 nuts where the the reson the plant burnt down You need to keep 2 operatos on at night, and pay attention to the ulageskid and alarms. To bad they did not know how to run the plant. Bob Dodds.

Tue, Oct 23, 2012 Paul Lee

Finding a common ground in the conflict between the development and the conservationists and tribes is a good idea.

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