A revised plan for the Soda Mountain Solar Project in the Mojave Desert near Zzyxx is being reviewed by the California Energy Commission. In MBCA's short comment letter (which includes links to background research and data), MBCA focuses on two critical issues. One is the question of whether additional such projects are even needed in California, as questioned in Melody Peterson's LA Times article "California has so much solar power that increasingly it goes to waste." The second major concern is the inevitable damage to desert ecosystems. If left undisturbed, this land could provide significant carbon sequestration, as described in the report The California Desert's Role in 30x30: Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity.

In another legal step in the ongoing battle between rooftop solar owners and utilities, the California Supreme Court ruled on August 7 that a challenge to the reduction in rooftop solar incentives determined by the California Public Utilities Commission should be revisited. Three groups (Center for Biological Diversity, The Protect Our Communities Foundation, and the Environmental Working Group) filed an appeal in January 2023 that was denied in January 2024. The Supreme Court’s decision requires the appeals court to revisit the appeal. More details and background can be found in this Los Angeles Times article.

In this letter to San Bernardino County Senior Planner Maryn Wells, MBCA expresses concerns about a proposed Development Code amendment that would permit expansion of the generating capacity of wind turbines Countywide. With the potential for placement of 100-foot tall wind turbines within the Rural Living Zone, MBCA is calling for the imposition of a Conditional Use Permit for the permitting of wind turbines throughout the County. Especially in desert communities, the installation of 30 to 40 foot diameter turbines presents health and safety concerns as well as threats to wildlife and the natural environment.

Keynote Speaker Bernadette Del Chiaro provided an audience of over 70 gathered on January 25 for MBCA's Annual Meeting with a message that "Rooftop Solar Is Essential To California’s Clean Energy Goals." She provided detailed and incisive information (view her PowerPoint slides) about California's power distribution system and the imbalance between utility company profit goals and the need to speed up renewable energy with rooftop and distributed solar. Compelling evidence was presented showing blatant misrepresentations by utilities in their efforts to slow the adoption of rooftop solar while encouraging utility scale projects.

MBCA Board member Allan Songer presented an overview of emergency battery power options, and provided a handout of some available products.

Steve Blackledge, Director of Conservation Campaigns for Environment America, focused on wildlife conservation issues in his presentation. Geary Hund, Board member of Mojave Desert Land Trust, augmented the presentation with news of progress toward the possibility of wildlife crossings on Highway 62.

    

Geary Hund speaks about possible future wildlife crossings on Hwy. 62.

For a more complete overview of the presentations at the annual meeting, here is a report (with photos) in the Morongo Basin's non-profit publication The Desert Trumpet and as reported on local radio station Z107.7.

And, a recording of all presentations and Q&A sessions is available on MBCA's YouTube channel.

For the third time in two years, MBCA has addressed both continuing and changing concerns about the proposed Sienna Solar and Storage Project in the Lucerne Valley area. The latest letter emphasizes unaddressed points made in our September 22, 2022 letter, as well as significant changes in the latest project proposal compared to the 2017 Planning Project Notice. Our letter also includes references and links to the Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity document that includes significant contributions by MBCA Board members, and a letter of concern from MBCA and local residents in April 25, 2022.

In his latest "Boiling Point" newsletter, Los Angeles Times' climate and environment writer Sammy Roth summarizes some of the environment and climate-related bills passed by California legislators and awaiting Governor Newsom's signature or veto. For each bill Roth describes context, what the bill would do, and lists supporters and opponents. SB 1374 regarding net energy metering on rooftop solar was noted in MBCA's June 10 eblast. Other bills relate to water and environmental justice issues, also of ongoing concern to MBCA.

A new YouTube video explores the history of protection for Joshua trees and the controversially approved destruction of 4000 Joshua trees for the Aratina Solar Project in Kern County. 

Joining with 113 state and national organizations, MBCA signed onto a letter in support of California's AB 59, a bill which would mandate that future electrical vehicles be bi-directional, providing a source of power to households when needed. As noted in our June 24 Eblast, "With the many recent setbacks to rooftop solar, this legislation would serve to encourage rooftop solar and micro-grid DG generation, while providing resilience to our increasingly stressed electrical grid."

Once again, plans are being evaluated for expansion of industrial-scale solar. MBCA's  letter to the BLM with comments on amendments to the Western Solar Plan emphasizes our support of Alternative 5, limiting projects to areas described as "Previously Disturbed Lands and Transmission Proximity." Another of our concerns is the lack of clear definitions in terminology describing "disturbed lands" or "well-sited" areas. We also ask for a pause on certain projects undergoing the Variance Review process.

MBCA's comment letter on the proposed 184-acre E Solar Project in 29 Palms questions some aspects of the plan and cites concerns with fugitive dust, lack of local air monitoring sites, and destroying the area's carbon sequestration value, illustrated with photos and maps. The document contains links to scientific data sources, and also references documents including 1) the report "Why do birds crash into solar panels?", 2) "California Desert's Role in 30x30: Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity," and 3) a group comment letter with concerns about California's land classification explained in this recent MCBA News Post.