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Sen. Feinstein says no wind turbines in nearby desert
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Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif)
Senator Diane Feinstein of Califronia has made it known that she does not want to see new energy projects, including that creating solar and wind power, in the pristine desert.
The area she is concerned about is between the Mojave National Reserve and Joshua Tree National Park, off the old Route 66 between the towns of Ludlow and Needles. About 800,000 acres make up this area. The Bureau of Land Management is reviewing 130 applications for solar and wind energy development in the California desert, covering 1 million acres of public lands.
While Feinstein is being backed by the Route 66 Alliance, Myron Ebell, an energy expert with the pro-market Competitive Enterprise Institute said that this is
the first example of how hard it is going to be to realize President Obama's dream of a green-energy economy.
However, Feinstien says that she is not engaged in a not-in-my-back-yard campaign.
I"m a strong supporter of renewable energy and clean technology--but it is critical that these projects are built on suitable lands.
The area she is concerned about includes desert tortoise habitat, wildlife corridors, cactus gardens and the Amboy Crater--an inactive volcanic crater. She is backed up by James Conkle, of the Route 66 Alliance who said
That section of the road is as pristine as it was when travelers came across it in the 1920's and 30's.
Feinstein was the author of the 1994 California Desert Protection Act. The Wildlands Conservancy paid $40 million for the former railroad land and is turning it over to the government with the intent of preserving it. She want the federal government to stick to that committment.
Meanwhile although there is a great deal of pressure from companies that would benefit from installing the solar panels and wind turbines in the contested area, Feinstein is Chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee because it writes the Department of Interior budget which is in control of the projects.
The Obama administration has indicated that it will work with Feinstein to fashion legistlation that would satisfy her, environmentalist and the industry.
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