Comments on: BrightSource Solar Scales Back Plans to Protect Desert Tortoise

By: Modeshift » Blog Archive » Resistance to Solar Energy in California, Southwest

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:10:16 +0000

[...] In February, BrightSource made another move to quell public concern by announcing it would reduce the size of a proposed 400-megawatt solar thermal power plant that it initially said would cover five square miles of the Mojave. The new plan calls for reducing the area needed for the plant 12 percent. Reason: the company said i… [...]

By: Global Patriot

Global Patriot — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:31:54 +0000

This will continue to be an issue, as we try to find the balance between green energy projects and the desire to protect wild spaces – which are often the best sites for solar and wind technology to be built.

By: Marshall Thompson, Malibu

Marshall Thompson, Malibu — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:24:12 +0000

I applaud BrightSource Solar for doing the right thing for the California Desert Tortoise and for consumers hungry for green power. I worked with Luz Engineering in the 1980s as they installed the solar thermal fields in the Mojave. It may cost a little more but we simply must not let “greenwash” and the excitement over game-changing technologies blind us to our responsibilities to care for the voiceless creatures of the planet. 250 million years on the Earth and in the past 50 years, 50% population vanished of all tortoises and turtles. We can do better.

By: Durandal

Durandal — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:19:21 +0000

There is plenty of space available on the roofs of businesses and homes. Let’s tap that first.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:48:26 +0000

Very nice to see the renewable/green energy companies taking on a more responsible view of the environment. I guess it is to be expected, considering most of these companies realize it is the environment from which all of these renewables come from and therefore deserving of respect and good stewardship.

By: Taylen

Taylen — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:55:22 +0000

Many factors happening, but very important that at least concerns on all fronts are being addressed as that is the true passion of the green movement and saving this planet. I hope that more and more moves to distributed as you are pointing out…There are plenty of open rooftops, roads, and new architectural designs for solar, wind, and other renewables to be incorporated that doesn’t disturb (more of) nature (than already has by said housing)!

By: David - green thoughts

David - green thoughts — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:38:36 +0000

Interesting, and thought provoking. I am sure there are additional factors also going on. What I like is that the pressure is moving things towards distributed systems. As the Internet shows, distributed power generation has many advantages — two chief ones being avoidance of control focused on major corporations, the other being greater efficiency via loca transmission and less disturbance of remote sites such as in this article

By: Taylen

Taylen — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:17:25 +0000

You said it, Becky. It’s very important to find the happy balance between going large scale and still protecting the earth!

By: Becky Striepe

Becky Striepe — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:52:37 +0000

I think that’s the danger with any new technology – trying to anticipate any downsides. You’re right, it’s important to take a step back and see what else we’re affecting!