How will California protect wildlife amid energy rush?
California and federal officials are scrambling to find new ways to compensate for wildlife habitat destruction amid a rush of wind and solar development on public land in the Southern California desert. Much is at stake. Protecting habitat of endangered or threatened species, such as the desert tortoise, is a major obstacle for energy companies, which could lose out on federal stimulus money if their projects aren’t ready to go before the end of the year. Both California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and President Barack Obama have made renewable energy development a priority, citing climate change, national security and new jobs. Companies have submitted applications for more than 150 wind and solar projects on public land, with the potential to cover hundreds of square miles of wildlife habitat. The challenge is how to allow development without pushing tortoises and other species closer to extinction. “This is historic in many ways. The scale and stakes are enormous,” said Kevin Huntin
