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Feinstein Moves to Kill Solar Projects

What is it with big time lefties trying to crush alternative energy projects?  First Kennedy, now Feinstein.

California’s Mojave Desert may seem ideally suited for solar energy production, but concern over what several proposed projects might do to the aesthetics of the region and its tortoise population is setting up a potential clash between conservationists and companies seeking to develop renewable energy.

Nineteen companies have submitted applications to build solar or wind facilities on a parcel of 500,000 desert acres, but Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Friday such development would violate the spirit of what conservationists had intended when they donated much of the land to the public.

Feinstein said Friday she intends to push legislation that would turn the land into a national monument, which would allow for existing uses to continue while preventing future development.

Posted by Owen at 1927 hrs
Politics + Politics - General

1. The ludite movement continues…

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 21, 2009 at 2156 hrs
   
   
   

2. Further proof the eco movement is full of hypocrites and liars.  They put “aesthetics” and “tortises” above the needs of people.

   Makes their “it’s for the planet” argument smell like the BS it is.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 21, 2009 at 2208 hrs
   
   
   

3. I loved Arnold’s response which was something along the lines of “where the hell else would be the best place to put solar collectors other than the Mojave desert”

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 21, 2009 at 2353 hrs
   
   
   

4. “concern over what several proposed projects might do to the aesthetics of the region ”

   It’s a freaking desert! What are the aesthetics! Some sand might get displaced? A cactus might get cut down?

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 22, 2009 at 0535 hrs
   
   
   

5. The chief obstacle to so-called “green” energy is not the great mass of technical and economic absurdities it carries but the Green Movement itself, which will not permit its implementation.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 22, 2009 at 0641 hrs
   
   
   

6. The very low power density of solar radiance at the Earth’s surface (approx 1 kw/sq. m - and that’s at the equator, at the equinox on a perfectly clear day) make it ridiculously impractical for large applications.  A quick and dirty calculation will tell you an area the size of the state of Arizona would have to be covered with solar cells to meet the needs of the country.

   That’s just crazy-talk.

   Posted by Steve on March 22, 2009 at 0733 hrs
   
   
   

7. If it is proven that using the Mojave Desert as a solar field would provide a significant amount of enregy to make a dent it should be done. In a way it would provide another type of draw to the desert because people will visit to see the “solar field”. I trained in the Mojave Desert when I was in the service and to be sure it has its’ environmental qualities that are worth protecting but it is absolutely HUGE. 500,000 acres would not put a dent in it. They would not need to build this field in the very middle of it and “ruin” the whole desert. It would make sense to build it on the edge of one of the cities such as San Bernadino which is in need of more jobs and economy anyway.

   The argument falls flat for environmentalists when they are fighting against the very thing they are fighting for. I won’t go so far as to call them hypocrites because you have different levels of people here. Some look at the big picture and some look at their backyard only. Wind farms face the same argument but should become more commonplace.

   Calling them hypocrites is resorting to the same behavior that you despise. I forget what thats called….?

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 22, 2009 at 1109 hrs
   
   
   

8. This is our Government folks…...

   Everybody by now should know that because placing solar cell collectors in the Mojave desert is the logical thing to do….because of all the sunlight….

   They will decide to place them in Seattle where there is NO sunlight, and it rains all the time, and then they will have another study wondering why it doesn’t work and the cycle will continue…...its JOB security people!

   DUH!

   Posted by Michael J. Cheaney on March 22, 2009 at 1222 hrs
   
   
   

9. I live in Vegas, which is surrounded by desert.  There is nothing there, trust me.  Those tortoises will adapt.  It gets up to 120 degrees or more in the summer, so those tortoises will probably use the panels as shade.  The biggest problem will be the humans who build the site, they are going to be more endangered.
   As far as aesthetics of the region, it really isn’t that pretty.  Just some cactus, rocks and sand.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 22, 2009 at 1317 hrs
   
   
   

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