Native Americans sue U.S. over solar power plant in desert [View All]

[Ginto]

Source: LA Times

A Native American tribe has filed a lawsuit against the federal government in an attempt to block construction of Tessera Solar's Imperial Valley solar power plant in the Sonoran Desert.

The 709-megawatt solar farm, planned for more than 6,000 acres of public land near El Centro, wrapped up its approval process in October.

But the Quechan tribe alleged in a complaint against the Interior Department that the installation could damage "cultural and biological resources of significance."

The tribe said that department officials ignored Quechan concerns and rushed through or skipped important permitting steps, violating federal law.

State and federal agencies have fast-tracked several major solar projects, aiming to break ground by the end of the year to take advantage of expiring federal stimulus funds.

More than 28,000 SunCatcher solar dishes intended for the site could harm a region known for the flat-tailed horned lizard, which plays a key role in the tribe's creation mythology, the complaint said. more

Read more: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/04/business/la-fi-solar-tribe-20101105