Easley Solar Project Comments Emphasize Dust and Environmental Justice
MBCA's October 23 comment letter about the proposed Easley Solar Project near Lake Tamarisk and Desert Center explains how the proposal will add to the already excessive dust problems in current projects nearby, affecting residents' health and violating concepts of environmental justice. Additionally and critically, undisturbed desert land provides carbon sequestration that has far more value and far less harm than scraping more desert for industrial scale solar.
Dust Issues in Mojave AQMD Rule 401
MBCA's comment letter to the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District summarizes the serious particulate matter issues (excessive dust) that result from large scale solar developments and requests that such situations be directly addressed in the agency's proposed Rule 401. "Currently neither the MDAQMD, or the County of San Bernardino Land Use Services require or, act upon knowledge of the soils and the hazard of blowing dust."
Recommendation for Carbon Sequestration in the California Desert
With extensive research support, the Inland Deserts Working Group (IDWG) that is connected with the California Natural Resources 30x30 planning process has produced Nature Based Solutions - Desert Sector, a report to the state recommending "conserving 100% of undisturbed non-military public lands annually based on current levels, starting in 2024." Two MBCA Board members on the IDWG believe that this document is a definitive report proving the high value of the undisturbed desert in achieving California's climate change goals.
MBCA Joins Protest Against Increased Utility Tax
In a letter to the California Legislature and Governor, MBCA joined 127 organizations and community leaders requesting they repeal Public Utilities Code Section 739.9 that requires public utilities to add a fixed charge to electricity bills based on customer income. “That would be three to twelve times the national average for such a fixed charge.” While the premise of income-based charges sounds positive, the letter includes a link to a study that demonstrates how such action will have negative financial consequences over time for many in the population it allegedly would aid. In addition, this provision of the Budget Bill was enacted without any public hearings or discussion. The short letter provides background information and links to helpful documents explaining the position of the signers.
MBCA Supports Sensible Power Plant Emissions Controls
MBCA has joined clean energy supporters across the country in requesting that their local utility (Southern California Edison in our case) clarify their commitment to decarbonization of power plants. The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the industry’s trade organization, is planning to oppose some of the sensible emission control standards of the Biden administration’s climate legislation. Read the Los Angeles Times editorial that has many helpful links, and the national letter MBCA signed for more details.
MBCA Against State Limits on Contractors for Battery Storage Systems
A proposal by the Contractor State License Board supported by major utilities "would make it more difficult and expensive for consumers to install and repair solar-powered batteries," according to the Solar Rights Alliance (details here). MBCA sent a letter against the proposal as in many cases it would limit choices, drive up costs, and effectively serve to discourage the creation of a renewably generated distributed electrical infrastructure.
