Mojave Desert Solar Farm Blocked By Senator Dianne Feinstein

Gizmodo.com/NY Times ^ | 12/22/09 | Kat Hannaford

[Reaganesque]

The Mojave Desert—last seen on our virtual pages when the SpaceShipTwo was unveiled—has leapt into the news again today, thanks to Senator Dianne Feinstein's legislation which will stop 13 solar plants and wind turbines from moving in.

It'll certainly be a hindrance to California's plans of generating a third of their electricity from the renewable energy made from the million acres that had been slated for the eco-friendly wind-traps. Feinstein's reason for blocking the move is due to the national monuments which were promised to the area a decade ago, the land having been donated by an environmental group.

Sure, solar farms don't exactly add much to the beautiful scenery of the Mojave Desert, but I remember seeing on a road trip between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe earlier this year the most amazing collection of windmills—I was awed. It'd be a sad day if Feinstein manages to get her legislation passed, but on the other hand, I can very much appreciate wanting to protect such important land. A million acres, though—surely we can come to some sort of compromise? See related NYT article.

[Reaganesque]

Yet another example of "do as I say, not as I do" from the Left. And, its all the more amusing given the fuss the Left has made about Copenhagen and their mantra of "if we don't do something right now, we'll all die!" I guess "we" need to do something right now, just not in Diane Feinstein's district.

[ClearCase_guy]

Kennedy blocked wind farms off Nantucket.
Feinstein blocks solar farms.
They all block nuclear power.

These people have no coherent energy policy, folks. They simply want to exert control over others.

[equalitybeforethelaw]

I’m a guessing that the desert needs protecting from those evil alternative enery companies? At some point, won’t we run out of people to hate?

[coconutt2000]

It makes sense that if the land was donated for a specific purpose, and the donors are a significant financial or voting base for her, then repurposing the land would be a bad idea for her politically.

I think that if land is donated for a purpose and that purpose is not followed through on, then the land should revert back to the donor. It doesn’t matter if I like or dislike the donor, the principle is the same.

The tax issue of reversion however could be a bit sticky if the land has not only gained in value but the donor had been able to claim a tax deduction in a previous year. The donor might not be able to afford to take the land back... lol, ouch.

[Reaganesque]

The Kennedy family is STILL blocking that wind farm. Ruins their view of the ocean, don’t you know?

[kosciusko51]

These people have no coherent energy policy, folks. They simply want to exert control over others.

While I agree with the second sentence, I would disagree with the first. Their energy policy is coherent, and it is:

The peasants shall not use energy, as it is ONLY for the Ruling Class.

Sort of like the King's Woods in medieval England.

[goldstategop]

Liberals like "green energy." As long as its not in their backyard!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[Lou Budvis]

You could solar farms, nuclear power plants, trash dumps,... in the Mojave and it won’t affect anything. It is so vast.

[Wahoo82]

I’m guessing she would support putting the solar and wind farms in Nevada.

[Tarpon]

Who knew, the laws of physics don’t apply to Democrats and their ‘renewable energy claims’.

The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can change its form.

The total quantity of matter and energy available in the universe is a fixed amount and never any more or less.

So no matter how much Democrats flap their gums, there is no such thing as renewable energy.

[ClearCase_guy]

I feel like a serf. I can't own property -- I always have to pay property taxes. I can't understand the laws -- they are written so ambiguously, that I won't know that I've violated them until the man with the cudgel tells me so. Taxes are confiscatory and they all go into the castle -- and where the money goes after that is not exactly clear.

We need Robin Hood.
Or that other Bowman ... Henry whatshisname.

[stylin19a]

A million acres, though—surely we can come to some sort of compromise?

try that line on ANWR...1,500,000 acres out of 19,286,482 acres ? though—surely we can come to some sort of compromise?

[givemELL]

The commonly unarticulated depopulation agenda requires that only enough energy be produced to supply ‘sustainable’ population levels in the future...certainly not for 300 million people. Alternative energy will only supply energy for a fraction of the current population even 30 or more years from now as projects are viewed at the present. Feinstein et al are seemingly more compliant with environmental groups population agendas every day. No ‘recovery’ efforts by the current administration are discussed in terms of ‘recovery’ for the financial stresses of 300 million citizens in our current central bank debacle. This article is consistent with the easily observed pattern of the Dems negating all efforts to increase energy production in any effective way. Without energy production increasing, there can be no economic recovery...more electrons must flow. The Dems have other agendas in mind than those that are perceived by the public.

[lmarie373]

Im really tempted to start a fire in the Mojave desert

I would love to see feinstein face....LOL

[daku]

you can squeeze an oil company for money, you can’t squeeze the sun or wind

[GregNH]

BINGO!

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Dianne CrimeStein is at it again....with her Liberal Hypocracy form of governance.

And more proof that the Global Warming Hoax crowd are Fascists