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Bob Deans of the NRDC breaks down the impact of a solar project in the Mojave Desert that will impact local wildlife.
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Completely switching gears now joining us is Bob d.s from the natural resource defense -- -- -- You hate when the price of oil goes down -- Because we're gonna use more of it that's a fossil fuel and up go the oceans and global warming is a problem you paid.
These are questions do we want Americans built afford gasoline sure we do what we also -- to be able to move toward the time we don't use as much gasoline so that we are not held hostage as an economy and it's families and -- communities to the price of oil -- Which we can't control are you cheering this lower price of oil.
We certainly do want Americans be able for gasoline absolutely but we also -- -- keep vile and all -- just long term we don't want to be subject.
To that it shocks of oil prices as we have been since the seventy's you hate the economy if it went down a seventy bucks a barrel.
-- -- hated it because gas would go down to about three box again a little less -- we use a lot more all of it -- done more fossil fuels he can your contrasts.
-- much low oil prices on not in your interest that's not what you see it -- it.
Here's what we don't like we don't like the fact that the country is having just to -- 800 million gallons of oil every single day much of which were buying from company countries abroad that don't share our values and don't share our goals that's what we don't like we don't like are people being in harm's way that's not real world you what you really don't like he's global warming to that point -- nation's -- -- Really get wind is.
We we really don't like me widening -- we don't like it -- trees in Yellowstone park -- dying we don't like it -- sea levels rising and threatening people in New Orleans and all around our coastal areas so all around the world.
No we don't like that at all -- concerned about it we need to reduce our carbon footprint that's part of it.
That's part of why we need to reduce our reliance on foreign oil.
If -- I'm with -- I think we should build the pipeline.
Give -- toss and oil is down from Canada and drill everywhere we possibly can so we don't rely on foreign oil I know you don't agree Whitman but you know I think that's what we should do now.
California State -- given the go ahead to a controversial solo project in the desert -- in California.
Environment -- have been fighting it because the area needed it that that the area was needed for home but does that eagle one on the street.
Those -- desert tortoises there were getting shelved doubts.
One now it seems they're gonna build out -- up plants the hell with the tortoises how do you feel about it.
Well we think solar is vital to our clean energy future absolutely the question is how we do it in the how matters now most solar companies understand it's in the Mojave Desert.
We've supported nine utility level projects that are producing 4000 megawatts of electricity.
These are places where it makes sense this does not make sense in this -- -- -- special because of the because tortoises big.
Well because it's a special place for the torsos and other reasons -- -- residential development on a massive deficits a couple of closes later pushed out and -- -- only camp built this massive solar plant really.
Stewart it's up about 11100 girls but apart from that it's also golden eagle -- bighorn sheep it's burrowing -- its plants that have been around there some of them -- and how can you I don't see any place every -- related some Eagles gonna be threatened some -- some -- some told to some -- some desert.
As -- -- something's gonna be threatening it is an honor at this is a special place we can build it here.
Now we we have identified tens of thousands of acres in the Mojave Desert -- -- perfectly appropriate including some that are very -- by this site we have met with this company more than ten times over the past three years.
We discuss the problems we've discussed alternatives.
This company has rejected those and so we expect folks to -- the -- and respect our environment and that's what we're hoping for here so shut this thing down.
Well what we're saying is these jumps to be relocated and relocated Stewart how -- think I'm gonna costs all the planning and they've got to go through all upon mixing process all over again.
Every environmentalists on the planet will come outside that insect.
He's in danger can build it -- you know that's the truth well you know it that is no we have actually set to this company here is an alternative place very near by the already been down greatly and other environmentalist groups out there are gonna come -- say that insect is vengeance -- -- you can't do it.
Well I can only speak for our group -- we are party to this situation and we've been negotiating with the company because we want to reach solutions we want to reach consensus we want to solve the problem.
And we have put alternatives on the table were hoping that the department terrible seat that what if they'll -- Bob one of these days.
We've got to build something in America in actually gonna.
But you know tortoises it's happening Stuart we -- building to building wind turbines around the country we're building solar panels and environmentalists -- still rarely happens as the noise in the bud -- and all the rest of it.
It it can never get it -- it just never again.
Stuart we got 3% of our electricity nationally now from -- -- -- were totally behind that 3%.
It's it's it's a good start and it's growing.
How on this -- at around as a as a sort of -- -- as a I know it's been around long -- but all my life in America last 35 almost forty years we've set wind.
-- have -- wins so finally.
3540.
Years later we've got 3% about Jews from -- -- eight.
Despite billions and billions of dollars in investments 3% -- it.
-- well it's it.
You know it's a new technology that we're looking at now and we're seeing in some areas as you know Stewart Texas is getting 8% of its electricity from -- so this is a very regional specific thing.
But to say that we got 3% from when we're getting 20% from nuclear wind is on its way it's got a good start we're gonna keep growing.
Yeah maybe in my lifetime or my grandchildren's lifetime we know -- and Bob Davis thanks for joining us always question thank you.
