Regulators have approved the construction of 9 large solar power plants in California, but many are facing opposition from local Native American tribes who say that the environmental and cultural impacts were not fully considered.
Todd Woody at Grist writes that the latest lawsuit, which impacts 6 of the 9 sites, follows a lawsuit last week that addresses one in particular:
"The suit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court in San Diego, follows a lawsuit brought by the Quechan tribe against the Interior Department for approving Tessera Solar's 709-megawatt Imperial Valley solar power station on the Mexican border.
That project would deploy 28,369 solar dishes-each 40 feet high and 38 feet wide-on some 6,000 acres."
FULL STORY: Native American group sues to block California’s big solar projects
Solar Power Mandate Could Endanger Cultural/Ecological Sites
With a major push by the federal government to achieve 80% clean energy by 2035, the California Energy Commission is moving quickly to approve permits. Sensitive Native cultural sites are threatened by the speedy process, say many involved.
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