Federal and state public agencies have endorsed a draft Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan designed to minimize the impact of solar, wind and geothermal power plants on delicate wildlife and habitat in an area spanning 22 million acres. The framework would streamline renewable energy permitting in areas within Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and a portion of eastern San Diego County (268,000 acres).
California’s major utilities are closing in on the state’s goal of providing one-third of electricity from renewable sources by 2020: SDG&E expects to hit the goal later this year. The milestone is unlikely to quench the region’s thirst for clean sources of electricity as California strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century to a small fraction of today’s pollution and the federal government looks to blunt climate impacts of the energy sector.
The California Energy Commission calculated that the state’s needs will result in the construction of close to 20 gigawatts of renewable energy generation capacity by 2040 in the conservation area, with or without the new guidelines. By comparison, the large twin nuclear reactors at Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo County can produce a steady 2.2 gigawatts at peak capacity.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/16/desert-energy-plan-moves-forward/