cross-posted from: https://lemmy.crimedad.work/post/91685
cross-posted from: https://jorts.horse/users/fathermcgruder/statuses/112563861339745778
Solar project to destroy thousands of Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/solar-project-destroy-thousands-joshua-100000768.htmlIt’s crazy to me that a destructive photovoltaic solar project like this one is considered reasonable, but a new nuclear power plant within or adjacent to a city is beyond the pale.
Chopping down Joshua trees is a bit absurd. I live in the mohave desert, there are PLENTY of barren areas to do it, you almost have to be looking for the ancient Joshua trees to decide to do that. And as far as I know they are protected in most places, especially the California side.
But I will say the article seems a bit ragebaity. “To power wealthy people’s homes”. Unless they are super isolated somehow, that power is going into the grid, just like every other means of electricity production. The dude that wrote the article will be using it to charge his laptop when it’s done, just like the rest of us.
yep. and it’s hardly like there are FORESTS of johsua trees, it’s one here, another one over there, a few kms down the road another one… the idea that they’re paving over a forest…
also, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they can just build around the fuckers, they’re small ass trees to start with.
Edit:
there are totally areas chock fulla Joshua Trees. I stand corrected, see links below.
But still think they can find space for this and other solar all throughout the southwest desert.
Eh. There are legit forests as alien as it may seem. This is on my drive to work: https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/10/ae/a1/0e/the-joshua-tree-forest.jpg
This is a random picture off Google, there are denser areas too. But, if you go a mile or two in any direction it is pretty desolate for another 50 miles. Just go anywhere other than the splotch of forest. Pretty simple.
Wow, TIL!
But yeah, the empty areas seem ripe for this.
That looks so strange
I’d love to see that in person
It’s on the drive to Grand Canyon West, if you ever plan on seeing that.
Time to add a pit stop on a vacation I’m planning for later this year
Thank you!
I’m pretty sure that picture was taken from the only access road to Grand Canyon West, so it’s not even a detour. You literally can’t miss it.
All of the electricity in a power grid is physically identical, but markets make a distinction between the sources by way of purchase agreements and various types of renewable energy credits. If it seems crazy for the locals to complain that they are losing their forest and not even getting the electricity from this new plant, it’s not because they’re mistaken. It’s because we have a crazy system to try and use market incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production.