The BLM held its first meeting regarding the land use affecting multiple states including California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. They are projecting the use to be around 700,000 acres of land but they have set aside 22 million acres of land. While they stipulate that wildlife will be protected, the only wildlife that is protected falls under the Endangered Species Act. Any animals that are outside of these protections will lose their ecosystem completely if widespread solar farms are allowed on these lands.
This is the powerpoint presentation that was presented by the BLM today.
One assurance that the BLM made is that the public will be allowed into the individual project meetings when they are held. This means that the BLM will have already given a supplemental go-ahead for that land use though.
A major concern for this entire proposal is that the BLM is accelerating the use of land without considering alternatives and pushing for the alternatives over opening up untouched land. As much as they want to minimize the impacts, these solar farms will destroy the desert completely and have a much greater affect on the entire planet.
Another concern is that these projects directly affect Indigenous Communities throughout most of the states involved. They are not taking into consideration the sovereignty of the tribes. On their powerpoint the BLM claims that they are, but also does not have the entire area mapped of tribal land affected by these projects.
We do need to use alternative energy sources other than fossil fuels, but we have to balance this with the negative effects on the environment and communities.
While the BLM states that they are protecting preserves, areas like Ash Meadows is not included under these alleged protected zones that would be free from development despite the fact that this area is a preserve and that there are several animals that fall under the ESA. It appears that the BLM is not being 100% transparent on the use of protected lands.
Then there are the desert tortoises that are native to much of Arizona, California, and Nevada that would be killed if they are moved. This is the only proposal for the tortoise that the BLM offers for them. The relocation of this important species has not ended well, being killed by predators in new locations or not thriving due to the change in environment. The desert tortoise needs the land that it lives on to be protected from any development and human destruction.
What can we do instead of opening up 22 million acres to use?
Cover all parking lots, buildings, houses, train tracks, and major highways with solar farms.
Push for less energy use for consumers. We all must cut back our energy use dramatically.
Ban highly consumptive businesses like cryptocurrency, AI, and NFTs.
Create regulations for all new products to use less energy.
Lease land from homeowners for solar projects.
The US government should not look at the employment of green energy as a quick way to make money off of solar companies and in the process, destroy vital habitats. They can still make money from leasing the use of public land like freeways, highways, and heavily traveled roads and train tracks. The fact that these areas are not utilized before the use of untouched land is a huge red flag and shows the intent of the BLM and the US government, which is to make money from these projects through the lease of untouched habitats.
Everything about the solar farms is harmful as they will damage the local ecosystem, starve the wildlife, create pollution from the roads that are required for their creation and upkeep, affect the amount of light that harms birds, and requires the solar farms to uproot vegetation and weeds that wildlife requires for sustenance. There will be runoff from these projects that will harm fragile habitats. The BLM actually requires these farms to take out the weeds and vegetation as a stipulation. Even if the solar farms do turn the lights off at night, the blinding light from the daytime will deter birds from that entire area.
We do need green energy, but not at the cost of entire ecosystems. The BLM did not allow us to speak directly with them, but did allow a few questions in the Q&A section of the zoom meeting. They are asking the public for input, questions, and ideas (please provide research).
If you would like to voice your concerns, comments, and ideas, please do so at:
Questions- Solar@blm.com
Thoughts, comments, and ideas- https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022371/510
Please include research with your responses.
You can also join the meetings in-peron being held in specific states. I plan on emailing the BLM and ask for them to host a meeting in CA as they are projecting to use a significant amount of CA desert but are not offering an in-person meeting for the state.
Please register here BLM meeting registration
I urge everyone to email and send in your concerns and ideas to the BLM so that we can hopefully end the planned use of unspoiled land that should be protected.
From the desert to the sea, may the land be protected and set free.
Protest
Boycott
Vote them all out.
Vote 3rd party.
BE UNGOVERNABLE
Please extend your energy to people and countries facing genocide and atrocities- Palestine, Sudan, Congo, West Papua, the Rohingyas, Armenians, and the Uyghurs.