A renewable energy company wants to build a major solar power farm on former ranchland in rural California. But environmental concerns over habitat and scenic beauty could stall the process.
Solargen Energy has been trying to secure the land, which is ideally located for energy production. But groups like the Audubon Society are hoping to stop the farm from being built.
"[Michael Peterson, CEO of Solargen Energy] wants to build one of the nation's biggest solar facilities of its kind. It would power about 120,000 homes. Another benefit of the project: Huge transmission lines already run right through Panoche Valley, making it unnecessary to build costly new power lines.
'It's key. It's everything,' he says. 'If you don't have it, the land is only as good as the ability to connect to the power.'"
FULL STORY: 'Big Solar' Struggles To Find Home In California
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