Congressman Paul Cook of Yucca Valley introduced a bill in the House of Representatives last week that would extend the deadline for construction to begin on a power project on the southeast boundary of Joshua Tree National Park. Managing editor Tami Roleff has more information about the project…
Eagle Crest Energy plans to build a 1,300-megawatt hydroelectric power plant at the site of the former Eagle Mountain mine. The Eagle Crest Pumped Energy Project would store energy from solar farms and windmills when supply exceeds demand, and when demand for electricity is high, pump nine billion gallons of water from the aquifer into a hydroelectric dam at the site. The energy project’s permit to begin construction on the project—which was granted in 2014—expires June 19. Cook’s proposed bill, which was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, would extend the deadline for when construction must begin.
The new deadline for construction has not been announced yet. Supporters of the energy project say it will help the state reach its mandate of producing 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy. Critics say the project will deplete the aquifer and harm the environment and threatened species. The hydroelectric power plant project was on hold for many years as Energy Crest negotiated the sale of the area. Conservationists argue that the area should be annexed to Joshua Tree National Park, which surrounds the mine on three sides.
