Solar Power Mandate Could Endanger Cultural/Ecological Sites

With a major push by the federal government to achieve 80% clean energy by 2035, the California Energy Commission is moving quickly to approve permits. Sensitive Native cultural sites are threatened by the speedy process, say many involved.

1 minute read

April 21, 2011, 5:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

The Bureau of Land Management is under fire as well for pushing forward without due process and community involvement. A lawsuit is underway, brought on by tribe members.

A report from the California Energy Commission came to the conclusion that almost 17,000 cultural sites in the southern California desert are at risk to some sort of construction:

"...archeologist Rolla Queen defends the government's review process, but admits that the dozens of solar proposals and projects in the desert region are "a little overwhelming." Not since the days of the major dam-building projects of the 1920s and '30s has the country seen public-land construction on this scale, he says. It shows: Overstressed government workers scramble to review new proposals while continuing to monitor sensitive areas at approved sites."

FULL STORY: Will Big Solar Bulldoze Sacred Tribal Sites?

Friday, April 1, 2011 in Mother Jones

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