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LADWP Drops Project that Would've Brought Renewable Energy from the Desert
Possible routes included skirting the borders of Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve. All routes would terminate in the San Bernardino National Forest.
A controversial plan to bring Los Angeles renewable energy from the desert has been shelved by Los Angeles Department of Water & Power officials, it was announced today, according to the San Bernardino Sun. Green Path North was a proposal that included seven possible routes to carry geothermal, wind and solar energy from the Salton Sea to Los Angeles County.
The project would have resulted in construction of new power lines across what environmentalists considered pristine desert and forest landscapes, possibly threatening the endangered desert tortoise among other environmental issues. There was also the chance of private land taken through eminent domain. A potential 2,000 megawatts of geothermal energy could have been tapped from the Salton Sea area in Imperial County.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's goal is to meet a renewable portfolio standard of 20% by the end of this year and 40% by 2020. A $2.50 per month carbon surcharge on LADWP bills to meet the 20% goal is currently being discussed.
Also: Feds Commit $1.37 Billion for Controversial Desert Solar Power Project