Developing large-scale solar projects on public lands has become a contested issue: what do you think?

Last week, San Bernardino county officials sought to stop progress on BrightSource Energy’s giant concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in the Mojave Desert. Land mitigation was the main complaint this time around, but BrightSource has been drawing flak for habitat destruction (desert tortoise) and water use (despite using a “dry loop” cooling technology, the solar [...]

Yesterday’s move by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to stall BrightSource Energy’s Ivanpah project is the latest episode in the drama of desert solar power development. It’s a drama that stars land usage, but really it’s an ensemble cast that includes corporate interests, state profits, and economic stimulus and job creation. (Not to [...]

Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) President & CEO Rhone Resch make a strong show of support for the Arizona solar industry in an op-ed for the Arizona Daily Star, co-written with Bret Fanshaw, an associate with advocacy group Environment Arizona.

Environmentalists and solar power developers are at odds over the benefits of building large solar power generation plants in the desert.