Ahnuld fast tracks solar development on sacred Native American lands

[wtmusic]

and locks tribes out of the meeting. Whoo-boy.

"Environmentalists, developers and government officials started work Tuesday on a blueprint that would speed up clean-energy development while minimizing damage to the environment.

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"Driving the project is Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's executive order to streamline the state's approval process for renewable energy projects and increase California's generation of wind, solar and geothermal energy production to 33 percent by 2020.

The governor on Monday signed an order allowing developers to contribute to a fund to pay for habitat lost during construction instead of requiring them to buy replacement land."

"A fund to pay for habitat lost." Who would they pay...Kokopelli? Sounds like solar just hopped aboard the "offset" train! :silly:

Even though ancient tribal landmarks are "in the footprint" of the development, Native Americans don't qualify as a core interest group:

"Members of La Cuna de Aztlan Sacred Sites Protection Council in Blythe said several pending solar projects there threaten ancient trails and geoglyphs etched into the desert floor.

Known as the Blythe giant intaglios, they include an image of the Native American creator Kokopilli, which is 200 feet tall and 50 feet wide, and one of the spirit Cicimitl that covers 10 square yards. Those and trails leading to ancient rock art at McCoy Springs are in the footprint of the proposed Blythe project by Solar Millennium, said Alfredo Figueroa, a Chemehuevi Indian.

'We are the guardians for these sites,' he said.

Figueroa said his group wasn't allowed to participate in the meeting, but officials made a point of saying tribal input and information about cultural resources are encouraged."

Translation: you just got f*cked.



The Blythe Giant Intaglios

http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_W_conserve24.4828657.html

[joshcryer]

1. Hmm, unrecced before I posted. Nice. Some here must find it OK to not allow participation...

...by those directly affected.

[joshcryer]

2. Ground image:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Blythe_Intaglio_(4858).jpg/800px-Blythe_Intaglio_(4858).jpg">Won't let me post inline.

I assume of course that the solar field will not be within the fenced area.

[Statistical]

3. It is sad they had to fence it.

Intentional vandalism & casual tourist damage I assume.