Testimony of William H. Meadows, President, The Wilderness Society on S. 2921, the California Desert Protection Act of 2010 before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
May 20, 2010
Chairman Bingaman and members of the committee, thank you for scheduling this hearing on this important bill regarding conservation of the California Desert and renewable energy permitting.
Mr. Salazar is expected to sign off on perhaps five more projects this year; the combined long-term output of all the plants would be four times that of the first two.
…Mr. Salazar emphasized that the Lucerne Valley and Imperial Valley projects had the support of the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife and the Wilderness Society.
In a major speech last week, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu declared that the United States is in the midst of a “Sputnik moment for clean energy development,” and that now is the time to win the clean tech race with China. He cited accelerating innovation as one of the key ways to ensure that we meet our country’s energy goals and be the world’s leader in clean energy.
For over 75 years The Wilderness Society has sought out protections for public lands across the country. Our efforts have kept threats, including irresponsible energy development, from harming the places we all hold dear. Now our team faces a new challenge—finding places that are suitable for renewable energy development. This has proven to be a tough path, but we understand a key element in the fight against global climate change is how we produce and conserve energy.
Recently a group of conservationists, wind developers, Native American tribes, and state environmental officials sent a list of recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior on how best to avoid and minimize wind energy impacts on wildlife habitats. Now that new bills are emerging in Congress that address solar and wind generation on public lands, these recommendations can help sha
Recently a group of conservationists, wind developers, Native American tribes, and state environmental officials sent a list of recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior on how best to avoid and minimize wind energy impacts on wildlife habitats. Now that new bills are emerging in Congress that address solar and wind generation on public lands, these recommendations can help sha
The Wilderness Society has been working hard to ensure that renewable energy facilities are only built on lands that are free from wildlife, habitat, and other conflicts. Part of this work is identifying “brownfields” — former trade and industry centers that have since fallen into disrepair — that could have solar, wind, or geothermal facilities sited on them. Siting renewable energy on brownfields has excellent effects on lands, communities, and our country’s clean energy prospects.
