Chris Clarke has posted an article at KCET.org about the Soda Mountain Solar monstrosity that seriously threatens the Mojave National Preserve and offers virtually no benefit whatsoever. From the article:
Five retired National Park Service Superintendents who spent a cumulative 35 years managing California’s three desert National Parks are asking the Bureau of Land Management to move a 4,000-acre solar project they say would threaten the Mojave National Preserve’s wildlife, views and groundwater.
In a letter to BLM California Desert District staff, the five also contend the Soda Mountain Solar project would violate local ordinances regulating renewable energy facilities. They’re asking the BLM to issue a new Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project that would take a serious look at alternative locations for the project, and extend public comment on the project by another 60 days.
The project, which would straddle both sides of Interstate 15 near Baker and abut both the Preserve and a nearby wilderness study area, has been roundly criticized for its environmental impacts and the lack of demand for the 350 or so megawatts the project would generate at its maximum.
The five signers of the letter are J.T. Reynolds, who served as Superintendent at Death Valley National Park from 2001-2009, Mary Martin and Dennis Schramm, who ran the Mojave National Preserve from 1995-2005 and 2006-2011 respectively, and Joshua Tree National Park superintendents Curt Sauer and Mark Butler, who managed that park from 2002-2-10 and 2010-2014, respectively. (Butler also wrote an Op-Ed slamming the project for the LA Times thatwe reported on earlier this week.)
The letter was addressed to BLM staff including state director Jim Kenna, California Desert District Director Terry Raml, and senior staff Katrina Symons and Jeffrey Childers, both of whom are responsible for aspects of the BLM’s work on Soda Mountain Solar.
You can read the rest of the article HERE.