The Joshua Basin Water District finds itself between a rock and a hard place on providing water for a controversial commercial solar development. Reporter Mike Lipsitz tells us what happened at last night’s board meeting…
At last night’s meeting of the Joshua Basin Water District, the board approved a vendor contract to rehab Well 14, as well as the purchase of three replacement fleet vehicles. Also, the board tabled any consideration of a human resources/labor contract administrator and an executive assistant. The board also heard from representatives of NextEra Energy. The firm aims to convert the Joshua Tree airport site into an industrial scale solar development, but progress has been delayed in part because the water district has a freeze on making any new commitments to provide water to developers until the governor relaxes emergency water conservation measures. Determined to press on, NextEra has put the District in an uncomfortable position: Provide the water or NextEra proceeds with plans to dig their own well. Look for a decision in an upcoming agenda.
JOSHUA BASIN WATER DISTRICT TOLD, “GIVE SOLAR PROJECT WATER OR THEY WILL DRILL THEIR OWN WELLS”
