The BLM has approved permits for a solar project near Pahrump, allowing construction to start soon.
This project, called the Rough Hat Clark County Solar Project, will take up about 2,430 acres of public land, not too far from Las Vegas. Jim Woodruff from Candela Renewables, the company behind it, is pretty excited. He mentioned that they’re all set to start building later this year.
There’s been a lot of chatter about the environmental impact, especially concerning the desert tortoise, which is a threatened species. Some locals and environmentalists were worried enough to write letters asking for the project to be scrapped. But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave the thumbs up, saying it wouldn’t harm the tortoise population overall.
They’ve got a plan to relocate the tortoises to a nearby area that’s better suited for them. The company also has to keep a good chunk of the vegetation intact and create access holes for wildlife.
Still, not everyone is on board. Some folks in Nye County are concerned about the water usage for construction, especially since many rely on wells for drinking water. The company plans to use a significant amount of water rights, which has raised eyebrows.
In the end, some protests against the project were filed but didn’t go anywhere. It seems like this solar project is moving forward, despite the mixed feelings from the community.
