Our contention was that the project, as approved, differed substantially from the original project that was submitted before the RECE 4.10 ban on solar in rural living areas was adopted. The Supervisors disagreed mainly based on an exception that had been added to the RECE regulation, allowing a project submitted before the RECE 4.10 ban to be ‘moved’ to another location.

The Supervisors also dismissed our argument that approval of Scenic Highway 247 was not disclosed to the Planning Commission during the project hearing – even though the County had been informed of the designation 6 weeks before! They reasoned that the Environmental Review documents had considered such an eventuality even though the designation occurred after the EIR had been submitted!

Our concern over air pollution from dust due to the land scraping was discussed but not given the attention we believe it deserves. Supervisor Rowe, chair of the meeting in whose district the project is located, committed to responding to air pollution complaints from the project. Given the ongoing air pollution from the existing Marathon and Agincourt solar projects in the area, we hope the developer, Avantus, will honor its commitment to control air pollution. Avantus has remained in contact with the Lucerne Valley community who have asked for mediation measures to be included within the final development plans.

With Sienna and the Calcite substation now given the green light, there is a potential for nearly 10 square miles of solar to be developed within the viewshed of Scenic 247! MBCA will continue to follow the entitlement process for Sienna.

E-Group Solar Project Twentynine Palms
The February 17 Twentynine Palms Planning Commission hearing on this 184 acre project lasted for nearly 3 hours and was continued to March 3, 2026 where the commission will deliberate whether to ‘transfer its decision-making authority to the City Council’ . The Desert Trumpet has provided in-depth coverage of project. The City of Twentynine Palms has an ordinance prohibiting industrial scale solar within the City, intended to halt the negative impacts this project would inflict on the community. The developer is threatening to circumvent this ordinance by utilizing the provisions of AB205 that would make the California Energy Commission the lead agency and sidestep the ordinance.

MBCA has provided comments in opposition to this project on the basis of aesthetic impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, air quality (dust!), and impacts to biological resources.

As this project is being considered, nearby and just outside the Twentynine Palms City limits, Lear Solar, a 68-acre, 9.9 mw solar project with batteries has broken ground. The notification process by the County for this project was inadequate to enable sufficient public input and MBCA is concerned air quality will be the worse after its construction. The cumulative impacts will be severe if the E-Group project is also approved.


Soda Mountain Solar
This huge solar project is utilizing AB205 for its entitlement process under the California Energy Commission as lead agency. A new concern has developed with the construction of Brightline West, a high-speed rail connection to Las Vegas adjacent to the Soda Mountain project. Brightline will utilize the median of Interstate 15 for its right of way. During the entitlement process, the developers agreed to install wildlife crossings over I-15 to support wildlife connectivity and the genetic diversity of the Big Horn Sheep population. One of these crossings is directly adjacent to this project and its effectiveness would be severely compromised by the Soda Mountain project. The comment period for this project has just closed and MBCA has submitted substantive comments asking for the ‘No Project’ alternative to be selected.

The imperative to transition to a carbon-free electrical infrastructure must not be at the expense of wildlife that are part of the ecosystem that supports us all!

Wildlife Crossings
The California Fish and Game Commission confirmed during their December 2025 status review that two populations of mountain lion remain threatened species. Addressing this threatened status, California’s Wildlife Conservation Board awarded the Mojave Desert Land Trust a $5.5 million grant for the planning stage of two wildlife crossings over State Route 62. MBCA is very pleased this grant has been awarded to MDLT, having written this letter of support. These crossings will address the impenetrable barrier created by HWY 62 that is described as the ‘Pinch-Point’ between Mexico and Canada for wildlife connectivity!