Mark Butler, a former National Parks Service superintendent, writes in the Desert Sun that a proposed solar project for the desert near Joshua Tree shouldn't be allowed. He is particularly concerned that the technology for the project, similar to that at the controversial Ivanpah project in the Mojave Desert, has shown to be dangerous to birds and other wildlife.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service analyzed bird deaths at the similar Ivanpah project. Although Ivanpah’s towers are 300 feet shorter, numerous burn-related bird deaths were recorded and scientists found that the site functions as a “mega” ecological trap whose heat and light would attract many different species in the food web. It is likely that Palen would also become a mega trap, harming birds, insects, bats and predators that live in and around Joshua Tree National Park.

Audubon California has stated that the threat of climate change to birds is serious, and that because of this we support responsible development of renewable energy. However, the technology used at Ivanpah is untested, and we believe the facts should be known before it is utilized elsewhere.

(photo of Ivanpah project by Jamie Lockard-BrightSource)