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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The two projects, both located in California, are the first in a series of renewable energy projects on public lands under final review by the Department of the Interior that would potentially provide thousands of U.S. jobs and advance U.S. clean energy technologies.
“These projects are milestones in our focused effort to rapidly and responsibly capture renewable energy resources on public lands,” Salazar said in signing the final Records of Decision for the initiatives.
Salazar said the projects advance President Barack Obama's agenda for stimulating investment in cutting-edge technology, creating jobs for American workers, and promoting clean energy for American homes, businesses and industry.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger applauded the development.
“Today’s announcement only further cements California’s national leadership in renewable energy development – and it couldn’t have been done without our federal partners,” Schwarzenegger said. “Our great partnership is helping to improve public health, grow our green economy, promote energy independence and strengthen our national security.”
Salazar’s approval grants the U.S.-based companies access to almost 6,800 acres of public lands for 30 years to build and operate solar plants that could produce up to 754 megawatts of renewable energy, or enough to power 226,000 to 566,000 typical American homes. The projects will generate almost 1,000 new jobs.
The projects Salazar approved will employ two different types of solar energy technology. The Imperial Valley Solar Project, proposed by Tessera Solar of Arizona, will use Stirling Energy System's SunCatcher technology on 6,360 acres of public lands in Imperial County. The plant is expected to produce up to 709 megawatts from 28,360 solar dishes, enough to power 212,700 to 531,750 homes.
The Chevron Lucerne Valley Solar Project, proposed by Chevron Energy Solutions of California, will employ photovoltaic solar technology on 422 acres of public lands in San Bernardino County, and will produce up to 45 megawatts from 40,500 solar panels, enough to power 13,500 to 33,750 homes.
The project has also gotten support from national environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Johanna Wald, the group's senior attorney, called the permitting of the projects “a major milestone in renewable energy on public lands and a down payment on America’s transition to a clean energy economy.”
She added, “Perhaps most importantly, the process provided valuable lessons that careful planning, siting and designing up front will lead to renewable projects that are smart from the start.”
Wald said the Natural Resources Defense Council, Wilderness Society and Defenders of Wildlife played “an instrumental role in getting these projects to where they are today, and encouraged important mitigation measures to minimize their impacts on diverse wildlife, precious water supplies and other key desert resources.”
In April of 2009, Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) committed to helping the nation reach its clean energy future by guaranteeing coordinated processing, full environmental analysis and public review for specific renewable energy projects where the companies involved demonstrated they were ready to advance to the formal environmental review and public participation process.
“We’re confident that our solar program is smart from the start. With something as momentous as the introduction of large-scale solar development on the public lands, we have one chance to do things right,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “That's why we did complete environmental analyses on both these projects with expanded opportunities for public participation.”
The “fast track” program is part of the administration’s overall strategy to spur a rapid and responsible move to large-scale production of renewable energy on public lands.
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, renewable energy developers that have their projects under construction by the end of 2010 or meet one of the program’s safe harbor provisions can qualify for significant funding.
The recovery act’s payment for specified energy property in lieu of tax credit program makes Tessera and Chevron eligible for approximately $273 million and $31 million, respectively.
Each project has undergone thorough environmental review, including public scoping, draft environment impact statements (EIS) and final EISs.
The companies have undertaken extensive mitigation efforts to minimize any impacts to wildlife, water and other resources. State and federal agencies have set up a joint compensation fund operated by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to ensure that impacts are mitigated.
“There are 11 million acres of public lands in the California Desert, and a large majority of those lands are managed for conservation purposes,” Salazar said. “These projects, while a significant commitment of public land, actually represent less than one-hundredth of 1 percent of that total area. Given the many benefits, the extensive mitigation measures, and the fair market value economic return, approval of these projects is clearly in the public interest."
Salazar also praised the unprecedented partnership between Interior and the State of California in encouraging renewable energy projects. On Oct. 12, 2009, Salazar and Schwarzenegger signed an agreement directing Interior agencies and California state agencies to create a unique federal-state initiative to advance development of environmentally appropriate renewable energy on U.S. lands in California.
The Imperial Valley Solar Project is one of the projects being jointly processed through the BLM and the California Energy Commission cooperative model.
“Our collaborative approach shows how separate government processes can be streamlined, without cutting any corners or skipping any environmental checks and balances in the process,” Salazar said. “I commend Governor Schwarzenegger and the people of California for their leadership and partnership on these important renewable energy projects.”
Schwarzenegger reported that there are more than 250 renewable energy projects interested in building and running facilities in the Golden State.
The California Energy Commission approved six large-scale solar projects totaling nearly 3,000 MW in clean, renewable energy which are expected to start construction in California by year's end. Those include the world’s largest solar energy project, which is expected to reach 1,000 MW.
The projects are part of a group of nine solar thermal projects scheduled to go before the California Energy Commission for decisions by the end of the year in order to qualify for federal stimulus dollars, the Governor's Office reported. If all nine projects are approved, more than 4,300 MW of solar power will be added to our grid, providing more than 8,000 construction jobs and more than 1,000 operational jobs.
Additionally, there are 12 other large wind and photovoltaic projects working to break ground in California, the Governor's Office reported.
On top of being home to the world’s largest solar energy project, California is also home to the world’s largest wind energy project, the Alta Wind Energy Center, officials said.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Caltrans issued the reminder to all candidates registered in the upcoming election, their representatives and campaign personnel, and campaign workers for ballot measures of the policy regarding placement of “temporary political signs” within view of a state highway.
According to Caltrans, Section 5405.3 of the State Outdoor Advertising Act allows an exemption for the placement of the temporary political signs along certain state highways.
But the law requires the signs not be placed within the state highway right-of-way, and if they're within view of a state highway candidates are required to file a statement of responsibility form with Caltrans.
To meet the temporary political sign requirements, the signs have to encourage a particular vote in a scheduled election, be placed no sooner than 90 days prior to the scheduled election and removed within 10 days after that election, be no larger than 32 square feet and have a statement of responsibility form filed with the Department of Transportation certifying a person who will be responsible for removing the signs, Caltrans reported.
Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie said they don't track how many signs belonging to specific candidates are taken down.
“We do track when we have a call to remove large signs but that is very rare and most of those are other advertising signs, they're not political signs,” he said.
Figuring out just where the right-of-way is, however, can be a challenge, he said.
“The right-of-way varies a lot throughout Lake County,” Frisbie said. “It depends upon where it's at, how old the highway is at that section.”
In some places, the right-of-way is about 10 feet from the edge of the pavement, in other places it extends as much as 80 feet from the road's edge, he said.
“If they're not sure, a general rule is in most places if there is some sort of fence off the road, generally that fence is on the right-of-way line,” he said.
Hanging the signs on fences also isn't allowed, he said, because the fence is still considered the right-of-way.
Because most people aren't aware of the right-of-way's location, illegal signs are a year-round problem, Frisbie said.
Not allowing the signs in certain areas has several reasons behind it, according to Frisbie.
“It's visibility and safety, but also it's an inappropriate use of state property,” he explained.
State law directs Caltrans to remove unauthorized signs. Maintenance crews will pull the signs when they can, although Frisbie said the removals are a low priority compared to other duties.
Because the signs are removed during the normal course of road work, the removal costs are insignificant, he said.
If someone calls to look for the signs, Frisbie said Caltrans crews will make arrangements to get them returned, with no charge.
Frisbie said candidates and their representatives can call him at 707-441-4678 to get more information on how to retrieve signs.
“We would much prefer that they call us rather than have to go out and remove an improper sign,” he said. “That inconveniences both of us.”
Candidates also can get a copy of the statement of responsibility form for temporary political signs at www.dot.ca.gov/oda/political_signs.htm .
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Students in Kelseyville are showing their community spirit by collecting toys for children facing traumatic circumstances.
Riviera Elementary School's Friday Night Live Club sponsors a stuffed animal drive, according to teacher and club advisor Deanna Madeson.
Det. Mike Curran with the Lake County Sheriff's Office recently picked up a number of the stuffed toys that he said the school had had since the end of the school year.
Curran said the students make two toy donations annually.
“The stuffed animals are used at our office to give to kids for comfort during uncomfortable topic interviews, at the Child Interviewing Center located at Victim Witness, accident scenes and by our civil division on occasions,” Curran said.
Madeson said the students also collect stuffed toys as part of their October Red Ribbon Week celebration, which this year takes place from Oct. 25 through 29.
The Red Ribbon Week events focus on themes, such as “Hugs Not Drugs,” Madeson said.
Students are encouraged to bring with them stuffed animals from home, and also are asked to donate toys.
“It's the whole entire school that gets involved,” she said.
She explained that the club, founded in the 1980s, encourages children not to do drugs.
At Riviera Elementary, the fourth and fifth graders are involved with the club. “We try to do a lot of promotion at school and in the community by getting the kids involved,” she said.
Activities include poster contests, service to community members including projects for rest homes, and the annual “Peacemaker Essay” that takes place around Martin Luther King Day in January.
Find out about the California Friday Night Live Partnership at www.fridaynightlive.org/.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Following a cool morning and early afternoon on Monday, Lake County residents got a sample of the changing weather to come with brief rain, some thunder and even a little lightning in areas of the county.
The National Weather Service issued a statewide winter storm advisory on Monday that was set to last through Tuesday at 11 a.m., warning of stormy conditions across Northern California.
The agency reported that an upper level, low pressure system was developing over California, with the system expected to produce significant snow above the 8,500 foot mark in certain areas of the state, particularly the Sierras. Campers and hikers in those areas were advised to move to lower elevations.
In Lake County specifically, the National Weather Service issued a special weather statement which expected a partly sunny Tuesday, with a high near 71 degrees and a north northeast wind between 8 and 11 miles per hour, developing into partly cloudy conditions with a low of 56 degrees.
A 20-percent chance of showers is reported for Wednesday, with partly sunny conditions and a high near 69 degrees, with a light and variable wind before a mostly cloudy evening with a high of 52 degrees, the National Weather Service reported.
Thursday should be mostly sunny with cloudy conditions at night, with a high of 70 degrees down to a low of 53 degrees.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday are expected to be clear and sunny with high temperatures at 72, 78 and 80 degrees, respectively. Next Monday, Columbus Day, should be sunny with a 72-degree high, the National Weather Service reported.
For current weather news visit the weather section on the Lake County News homepage.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at