Twentynine Palms residents pushback on proposed solar array

A proposed 184-acre solar array in Twentynine Palms was the sole and hot topic at an early public meeting last Thursday in Luckie Park. It was led by City of Twentynine Palms Community Development Director Keith Gardner and Nicole Criste - a representative from the consultancy group Terra Nova. They presented some findings from their initial study: No Impacts: Agriculture & Forest Resources Mineral Resources Wildfire Potentially Significant Impacts: Aesthetics (visual character & glare) Air Quality & Greenhouse Gasses (increased residential density) Biological Resources Cultural & Tribal Cultural Resources Geology & Soils (erosion) Land Use (conflict with the General Plan) Less than significant impacts or mitigation required: Energy Hazards & Hazardous Materials Hydrology Noise Population & Housing Public Services Recreation Transportation / Traffic Utilities & Service Systems. Nicole Criste from the Terra Nova group presents their initial study overview Although the project is in early planning - around 50 people showed up to Patriotic Hall at Luckie Park to share their public comments on the project. Resident Peter Lang lives near the proposed project, and talked about the beauty he finds on Samarkand DR. near his home which sits adjacent to the acreage that will have the solar panels installed on it - an activity that he says goes directly against town code: "The city's development code 19.18.030 bans utility-scale solar facilities." Lang read from the town code which mentions the potential negative effects of solar facilities. Mainly to the tourist industry, aesthetics of the desert vistas along with a potentially adverse effect to property values and the overall quality of life for those like Lang who may have to live next to one - an evaluation he agrees with: Resident Peter Lang holds up photos of wildlife and the area surrounding the proposed solar development. "No way could I have written that better. They nailed it.” One of the main areas of concern is the extensive grading which would be needed to install the 160,000 solar panels - potentially destroying habitat for endangered natives like the Mojave Tortoise, or nests for ground-dwellers like burrow owls. Alongside the animals who could be displaced, extensive grading and native plant removal destroys the topsoil and the mycological networks that exist just below it. Native plants like creosote have large root systems they have hold down the topsoil and store carbon in the networks below the soil. Many residents expressed concern about the dust that can result in these types of developments. Robert Smith from K&L Gates, representing the applicant group Other meeting participants said that they felt that the developer was threatening the residents with bypassing the city and partnering with the state to get the development done Robert Smith from K&L Gates was there representing the solar array applicants and clarified: Robert Smith: "There is a process by which applicants that are proposing renewable energy projects can go to Sacramento. We're here because we don't want to do that. That is an option, certainly, but that's not option A, B, C or probably D. We're hoping that e-group can work with the city to develop a project that the city can be proud of, and that e-group can be proud of and that's why we are going with the process through the city instead of going with the process through Sacramento." Although the majority of public comment was against the development of the solar array there were some comments of support: mainly that solar energy in the state of California is an inevitability, and it has to be built somewhere. So why not somewhere that we can see and visualize where we get the energy to power our lifestyles? Whether it's opposition or support - the public is open to make their comments about the upcoming development and Nicole Criste from the Terra Nova group summed it up: "We are going to have multiple opportunities to comment in writing after the EIR (Environmental Initial Report) is finished. There will be public hearings for both the Planning Commission and the City Council. I encourage everybody here to participate in that process and the city will have multiple opportunities for you to keep making your opinions known." The public review period ends on March 29th – you can get more information here on Twentynine Palms’ website. Previously Reported: https://z1077fm.com/twentynine-palms-184-acre-solar-array-up-for-public-discussion-at-thursday-meeting