By Lena Babaeva

The Park Service warns of potential impacts to Mojave Desert from the planned solar projects, in that having dozens of solar power plants in the desert could impact water supplies across the already arid region.  So far approximately 63 projects are planned for the region, and would use groundwater to cool and wash solar panels, with the Park Service being concerned that solar projects would use water, as well as create air and light pollution, generate noise and destroy wildlife habitat.

While environmentalists say they support the expansion of alternative energy, some groups have raised objections to large solar arrays and wind farms that would displace endangered animals and plants and damage their habitats. They also have raised concerns about environmental damage caused by the expected build out of thousands of miles of new transmission lines necessary to bring the electricity from remote regions to power-hungry customers.

The debate over the use of vast tracts of land out West has been heating up, with environmentalist groups becoming more vocal about potential impacts of the projects in the recent months.  It has not been evident whether the impacts are being considered in the current applications for use of the land.