JT Airport Solar in a Legal "Stay" Status
NextEra /JT Solar project is officially in a "legal stay" for six months as requested by NextEra. The Southern California Edison’s RAM PPA for the project has expired and NextEra has stated no work on the project has gone forward. The group Joshua Tree Community for Responsible Solar took the lead in opposing the project and initiated legal action.
Desert Sun Editorial on Eagle Crest Project
The Desert Sun Editorial Board has published an opinion piece criticizing Governor Jerry Brown's request for federal assistance to develop the Eagle Crest pumping station project. This is the "giant battery in the desert" hydroelectric project proposed for the Eagle Mountain Mine lands at the southeast border of Joshua Tree National Park. The privately owned mine area was not included in the recent study recommending return of about 22,000 acres of nearby land back to the National Park. Read the Desert Sun editorial to learn more about why the project is "not a wise use of precious desert water." You can also read more about the Eagle Crest project by scanning past articles on MBCA's Water Issues page.
E-Blast February 14, 2017
- Return Eagle Mountain lands to JTNP
- Stop 2,220 home development - Mission Creek
- Black Rock Symposium: "How to Make Your Voice Heard on Conservation Issues in an Uncertain Political Climate."
- UCR Conference: Solar Energy Directions for Inland Southern California: Where is it going?
- Renewable energy Moratorium request - San Bernardino Co.
- Ruth Denison Environmental Conservation Scholarship
- Refreshed and renewed website - mbconservation.org
Cadiz, Inc. Project Commentary
While MBCA and many other conservation advocates have spoken against the Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery and Storage Project, KCET recently published a commentary from Cadiz, Inc. in response to project criticisms.
Eagle Mountain Meeting Follow-Up
A number of MBCA members and supporters attended the January 18 meeting in Palm Desert in support of the process of transferring Eagle Mountain area lands back to Joshua Tree National Park.
Board member Seth Shteir, left, and President Sarah Kennington, extreme right
Please consider writing a supporting comment letter by February 16, 2017. Go to our Call to Action page for more details.
New Comment on California's Renewable Energy Planning
MBCA continues to keep an eye on California's Renewable Energy planning process. In this letter crafted by our Board member Pat Flanagan, MBCA comments on concerns with the current planning process that, among other things, overlooks the extent of dust pollution created by excessive large-scale renewable energy projects.
Cadiz Water Project Commentary
Published on the KCET Redefine blog, Joshua Tree resident Sant Khalsa's commentary, "Opinion: Water Project Would Hurt New National Monument" provides background and details on the current status of the ill-conceived Project.
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National Park Proposed Land Transfer
The Department of the Interior recently announced the latest step in the process of adding about 20,000 acres to Joshua Tree National Park. The "Eagle Mountain Boundary Study" began about two years ago and the current action moves another step toward final action.
Read moreJoshua Basin Water District Receives Award
The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) presented its Huell Howser Best in Blue Award to the Joshua Basin Water District on December 1, 2016, for its innovative outreach program encouraging the public to plant water-saving native plants.
Read moreOff Road Vehicles Comment Letter
On January 22, 2016, MBCA submitted a detailed comment letter to the BLM about the proposed changes to the West Mojave Plan (WEMO), arguing against the Plan Amendment, particularly the preferred Alternative 3, as it "threatens our quality of life, property values, tourism economics, and public land conservation values by legalizing OHV riding on thousands of miles of dirt roads throughout our Morongo Basin and other area communities in the West Mojave."
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