A project to install solar panels around the Mojave Desert has begun cutting down thousands of Joshua trees, much to the chagrin of residents.
The Los Angeles Times reported that several citizens of Boron and Desert Lake have begun to notice the effects of the Aratina Solar Project, a 2,300-acre government-approved plan to produce clean energy through solar panels. The project is expected to produce 530 megawatts of renewable energy.
However, local residents expressed concern not only about the loss of iconic landmarks, but also about the devastation this could cause to the environment. Others warned of the threat of valley fever, a respiratory infection that could be caused by excessive dust from construction sites.
Native grasslands mix with Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert landscape. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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“I don't want another city to go through this,” said resident Roy Richards.
Nurse Melanie Richardson described it as “difficult to even watch” the trees being cut down and organised a rally on Saturday to oppose the project.
“Nobody wants this to happen,” he said.
Joshua trees have typically been a protected tree species. Avantus, the developer behind the project, received a waiver from California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Fish and Game Commission to cut down the trees in 2020.
Avantus has said it has been working to preserve natural wildlife and will cut down fewer trees than previously approved by the government. But the company has failed to quell criticism, particularly as the energy from the solar panels will be sent to wealthier communities.
Avantus began felling Joshua trees in June. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A petition against the project was launched earlier this summer and now has more than 52,000 signatures.
“Ancient Joshua trees are going extinct and we must save them. The Aratina Solar Project in Boron, California has been approved to destroy nearly 4,000 ancient Joshua trees in this forest… These iconic trees have stood for centuries, providing habitat for numerous species and contributing to the unique biodiversity of our region,” the petition reads.
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The solar panels are expected to create approximately 530 megawatts of energy for the state. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP, File)
“Joshua trees are already threatened by climate change and human activities,” he continues. “According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, these trees could lose 90% of their habitat by the end of this century if current trends continue. Allowing this project to continue would accelerate their decline. We need sustainable energy solutions that do not come at the expense of irreplaceable natural treasures.”
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