Resource plan amendment for the california desert conservation area and palen solar power project riverside county california june 13 2011 alternatives analysis compared to the preferred alternative the reduced acreage alternative would generate 25 percent fewer megawatts but reduce the disturbance area by about approximately 50 percent to 2 242 acres.
California desert conservation area solar panels.
Department of the interior s bureau of land management blm has given a preliminary but close to final environmental approval for first solar s 450 mwac desert quartzite solar power plant.
To protect the area and streamline the permitting process the california energy commission the california department of fish and wildlife the u s.
Fish and wildlife service developed the desert renewable energy conservation plan drecp that identifies areas in the desert appropriate for the utility scale development of wind solar and geothermal energy projects.
The development of the plan began in 2008 as a renewable energy gold rush led to solar and wind developers proposing projects all across the southern california desert.
Area conservationists were concerned that the projects would haphazardly slice up the desert if measures weren t put in place to protect the sensitive ecosystems.
The blm published a notice of availability for the project which opens a 30 day protest period and a 60 day governor s consistency review.
California desert conservation area planning and nepa solar energy regions.
The company has signed contracts to sell energy from palen and another nearby solar farm desert harvest to southern california edison marin clean energy in the bay area and the cities of.