Despite opposition from a local group, a large-scale solar project in Lucerne Valley was given the green light by the County of San Bernardino.
The project is proposed for nearly 2000 acres in the area of 33850 Granite Road in Lucerne Valley. The project is proposed by Avantus LLC and would bring power towers and lines across 1,854 acres, or 27 parcels.
The project was approved by the County Planning Commission in 2025, but the Morongo Basin Conservation Association (MBCA) filed an appeal to the County Board of Supervisors, asking them to reconsider the approval. Their appeal was based on environmental concerns and water use, along with their preference for small-scale solar projects over larger developments.
At Tuesday’s (January 27) meeting of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, the Board rejected the MBCA’s appeal, effectively giving the County’s “green light” to move ahead with the project.
The MBCA’s Steve Bardwell said, “We were very disappointed the County denied our appeal and approved the Sienna Solar Project over the voices of Lucerne Valley and Morongo Basin residents.
The County has chosen to place the development of this massive solar project over the wishes and concerns of its rural residents.
The MBCA continues to call for the adoption of reliable and resilient roof-top solar in the built environment and appropriately sited utility scale solar to address our growing climate crisis.”
