by Laraine Turk
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on June 09, 2021
Several MBCA Directors were involved in creating and delivering a presentation to the San Bernardino County Planning Commission on behalf of the Third District Dark Skies Committee on May 27, 2021. This
YouTube link contains the Committee's presentation, including some Q&A with the Commissioners. The entire Light Trespass Ordinance Workshop can be viewed
here. At 1:27 in this full video, a presentation with an opposing viewpoint is presented by Ted Stimpfel of Newberry Springs. At 1:56 public comments from the Joshua Tree Government Center begin.
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by Laraine Turk
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on June 04, 2021
The Net Metering bill
AB 1139 that would reduce benefits for home solar failed to pass a June 2 California Assembly vote. MBCA joined many organizations in March to
oppose the bill. Several renewable energy industry news groups have provided information and commentary on the bill and the vote, including
PV Tech,
Solar Power World, and
PV Magazine. While it is "off the table" for now, the bill could be reintroduced in January 2022.
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by Laraine Turk
1106sc
on June 04, 2021

Yucca Valley High School graduate Kahlena Alcantar has been awarded the 2021-22
Ruth Denison Conservation and Environmental Scholarship from MBCA. Kahlena will be studying Marine Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has volunteered locally with the Mojave Desert Land Trust and the Wildlands Conservancy and is pictured here with MBCA President Steve Bardwell. We wish Kahlena the best as she pursues her education and career goals!
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by Laraine Turk
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on May 26, 2021
- Attend Light Trespass Workshop
- Virtual Landscape Tour
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by Laraine Turk
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on May 16, 2021
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by Laraine Turk
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on May 16, 2021
MBCA’s May 16 letter to Assemblymember James Ramos encourages his efforts to pass legislation that would establish a California Desert Conservancy within the state’s Wildlife Conservation Board. (See our January 13 News post for additional background.) Ramos introduced AB 1183 in mid-February and the bill is working through the committee review process.
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by Laraine Turk
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on May 14, 2021
MBCA's long-time Board member and science educator Pat Flanagan is part of a team of conservation advocates who have created detailed Science Briefs about
carbon sequestration and
biodiversity in the California desert. They will be used to educate lawmakers and state agency officials working on climate change and land use issues. Other writing team members were representatives of the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, and Mojave Desert Land Trust.
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by Laraine Turk
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on May 12, 2021
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by Laraine Turk
1106sc
on May 12, 2021
Along with the California Native Plant Society and sixty additional organizations, MBCA has signed a
letter requesting that California's proposed emergency funding related to wildfire be allocated with a focus on science-based management practices. The letter states: "
We urge the Legislature to modify this proposal to ensure that appropriate levels of funding are directed into the right locations to protect communities and ecosystems and that science-based solutions are used appropriately in California’s different regions."
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by Laraine Turk
1106sc
on May 09, 2021
- Light Trespass Workshop by Planning Commission
- Stop the Threat to Community Solar in California
- Short Term Rentals
- MBCA Takes a Stand on Glamping Projects
- Virtual Landscape Tour
- New MBCA Website Features
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