From Victorville to Wonder Valley, residents from all over the high desert traveled to San Bernardino to testify at yesterday’s public hearing on an amendment to the Renewable Energy Conservation Element of the County General Plan. Reporter Mike Lipsitz says no one expected what happened…
What happened was that the public hearing was postponed because Third District County Supervisor James Ramos was a no-show. Expectations were that the Board of Supervisors would decide once and for all on a policy for the siting of large-scale renewable energy plants: Would they continue to be permitted on pristine desert, alongside private homes, and in violation of the local community plans, or would they be relegated to previously disturbed desert land, far from populated areas? Because most of the areas in question are in the third district, Chairman Robert Lovingood opted to postpone the hearing until all five supervisors, but especially Ramos, would be there. For the dozens who made the long trip to San Bernardino and a dozen more who planned to comment from the video conference center in Joshua Tree, the last-minute postponement was a disappointment; many vowed to return when the hearing is rescheduled.
James Ramos won his race for California Assembly District 40 yesterday.
