There are two types of environmentalists: the preservationists and conservationists. The difference is that preservationists see industry as a threat while conservationists think otherwise. Barack Obama is a conservationists. His strategy of producing "every available source of American energy" is a "strategy that's cleaner, cheaper and full of new jobs". He also announced that it would bring millions of dollars in federal stimulus by imposing on the "solar gold rush". The majority of the proposed solar plants are set to be built in the Mojave Desert. Not only will there be an increase in employment, but more than 3 million homes will be powered by clean energy. Legislature offers incentives for energy efficiency and utilization on clean energy. However, there is correlation between population growth and energy consumption which has become problematic. It has allowed for plans to be drawn up about where to absorb clean energy and by when to satisfy the electric grid. Companies such as Bright Source and others that build solar and wind farms share similarities to corporate businesses. "Energy efficiency...isn't a substitute for new power plants. Driving up the cost of new solar - and wind-power facilities won't spur energy efficiency; it will reinforce reliance on fossil fuels" (Stein, The Environmentalist's Dilemma). Keep in mind that there is competition of which groups can provide renewable energy in a timely manner. The problem is the price tag ($420 billion) and the area required to satisfy the electric grid, which is 46,000 square miles. However, it is still cheaper to construct solar farms than nuclear plants in the United States.
Although the Mojave is an ideal location for solar and wind farms, there is opposition from preservationists. Solar panels are known as "death" panels for their construction disrupts the ecosystem they are meant to save. Preservationists position themselves with wildlife while conservationists choose clean energy. The latter approve construction of wind farms, solar energy plants and hydropower dams. What they do not realize (and what preservationists want to make public) is that wildlife is impacted. Through the already existing wind farms, birds and bats are decimated and marine species are threatened through river flow alteration.
As for the proposed clean-energy projects, there are various steps before construction gets underway. Before any landscape is damaged, companies have to estimate the number of species that will be impacted and where to relocate (thanks to the Endangered Species Act). Around 2,500 species are affected by clean energy project construction. One species endemic to the Mojave ecosystem is the desert tortoise. "Desert tortoises...spend their entire lives within a few miles of their birthplace. If you pick them up and move them, they will promptly freak out and dehydrate themselves by peeing out several month's worth of stored water" (Butler, Death Panels). Compare this to the butterfly effect. If you change something in the past, it throws off the future. Therefore, protecting a tortoise is like protecting the Mojave ecosystem.
Aside from trucks and road construction that will disrupt the Mojave landscape, it is suggested to meet the electric grid by constructing clean energy plants that parallels that of 95% of the Mojave Desert. According to remote sensing by the USGS, perennial vegetation for the Mojave Desert ecosystem is greater than 80%. The map on the left shows the percentage of perennial vegetation. It is not a good idea to build clean energy plants in green areas for they constitute 10% and more of perennial vegetation. The best places to construct solar and wind farms are in the orange and yellow areas for there will be less impact on the ecosystem.
Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve used to be a getaway from civilization, but with more annual visitor impact, the effects are noticeable. From air quality, liter and increase in vulture population, this brings a toll to the Mojave ecosystem. It makes it look aesthetically displeasing and the tortoise population decreases (since they are food to ravens).
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