MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS ABOUT THE LANDERS SOLAR FIELD

Following a meeting with representatives from sPower, the company that wants to build a solar field on 35 acres in Landers, a group of Landers residents collected enough money to file an appeal of the solar project permit granted by the county. The residents’ appeal was filed with the county on Monday, December 15. Residents also asked sPower who actually owns the proposed site of the solar field; who initiated the solar project—previous owners of the site, real estate brokers, investment bankers, or someone else; does sPower have a commitment from Southern California Edison to buy the power generated by the solar fields; and would the company be willing to work with the community on project aesthetics? Managing editor Tami Roleff says the solar company answered at least one of the questions…
The sPower representative, Garret Bean, asked residents several times during the December 13 meeting how the company could help the community. Garret said in a letter to one resident that sPower would be open to repairing the potholes in Reche Road. Bean also said that historically, sPower has worked with communities by participating in events, improving roads, employing locals, working with schools, and working with the community to select landscaping that improve the aesthetics around and near the project.