First I have heard of this!

[Bro_Gill]

Wayne or anyone else with info- There is an L.A. Times article about the cost of saving tortoises for Solar Power in the Mojave. Here is an excerpt from the article-

"California requires developers to provide two acres of suitable tortoise habitat for every acre of habitat taken. But the scale of the solar development coming to Western deserts is so vast that it renders the formula unworkable. Not enough alternative land exists.

Instead, solar developers may now pay to close off-road vehicle routes, rehabilitate degraded habitat on federal land, fund public education programs and erect miles of special fencing to keep the tortoises off highways and out of solar energy sites."


Now, I am totally aware about the requirement to offset developed land, although I seem to remember that 3:1 was what was required of cities and counties, but this was probably part of the sweetheart deal the solar developers got when they donated to some political campaigns for federal office. It is not actually their money they are spending, it's ours, but, this is the first I have heard where they can mitigate land habitat loss by purposefully paying to close OHV routes. Since the money they are spending is tax dollars, not private investment, and the requirement and permission to meet said requirement comes from the federal gov't, then doesn't this mean that the federal gov't is using tax dollars to close OHV routes in the Mojave? This is absolutely unacceptable.

How does everyone here feel about their tax dollars going to close down the recreation they enjoy, is not illegal, and has been taxed itself to provide for that very recreational enjoyment?

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[coilover88]

Not surprising in this age of gov't control and disregard for law. My taxes have been used against me for as long as I remember!

[inyonative]

solar power companies are private entities. they may qualify for tax incentives, but it's not like we are paying with our tax dollars.

the off-road trails they get credit for rehabbing are not the designated routes that riders can legally use, but the rogue trails that are used illegally.

It's in the best interests of the solar companies to give away about 200 crf250rs to teenagers in the HD so they can create new illegal routes that the companies would get credit for rehabbing.

[Wayne_Nosala]

Check our http://drecp.org/ CORVA and ORBA both have a seat on the decision round table and can intervene if any legal routes are compromised

I personally have gotten involved with a route we could have lost between Jawbone and Cal city, This is how
these things should work, They are using pre disturbed alfalfa fields, Its private property, Not public, Mitigation
was minimal, and we did not lose any opportunity.

The Bright source project is a complete disaster of epic proportions, and some enviros are siding with the access
community, this one should have never have gotten off the ground

Wayne

[Bro_Gill]

Inyo- Again with your incorrect trolling. Pretty much EVERY new solar project that is happening in the California Desert has been either paid for with Federal dollars or the loans are guaranteed with Federal dollars. That means tax dollars are paying for these things. And it doesn't matter how big the project is. Even simple homeowner projects are costing the home owner nothing when it comes to costs because the Gov't is giving tax breaks and rebates that they are paying with tax dollars. That means WE are paying for these projects. You won't believe me, but maybe if you learned just a little from Solyndra, you would understand. In that case, the Gov't guaranteed loans of over 500 million dollars for the company that is now going bankrupt. That means that the tax payers will be funding the payout to the private investors so that they will lose nothing in their investments in that private company and the tax payers will foot their investment losses bill. Not to mention all of Obama's buddies who worked there and are still receiving 'bonuses' for pay out of the same tax dollars for sticking around to close the company down. I will say it again, this is a grown-ups room, leave the 3rd grade mind-numbing media bites at the door.

[inyonative]

Gov't is giving tax breaks and rebates that they are paying with tax dollars.

oh you must mean like the support they give the petroleum industry

[Bro_Gill]

Just as I thought. Earth First much? Be gone Troll.

[Bro_Gill]

Oh, and Inyo- Last time I looked. petroleum based energy was still the cheapest and most efficient. How much energy has Solyndra produced for the 1/2 a billion dollars?

[troyharper]

John Bonruff will be running for Cal. State senate, in the next election.
I know him personally, he is a buggy / bike guy that will have our backs!