The Manzanar Committee has announced that two solar projects that it feared would ruin the visitor experience to the incarceration camp have been delayed indefinitely, reports Sierra Wave.
The committee made its announcement jointly with the Owens Valley Committee.
Amanda Parsons of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which proposed the 1,200-acre Southern Owens Valley Solar Ranch (SOVSR) confirmed the project had been withdrawn due to time constraints, but said the project could be resurrected in the future.
“The project has been removed from the queue,” said Parsons. “The Department reserves the right to renew exploration into the SOVSR at a later date. LADWP will continue to examine the viability of this renewable project for a commercial operation date estimated to be between 2024-2027.
“LADWP will continue to examine the viability of this renewable project and many others, especially in light of the new state goals of 50% renewables by 2030,” added Parsons.
A second project by Northland Power/Independence Solar Farms has been cancelled.
“The recent announcements that the LADWP has delayed the SOVSR, as well as the Northland solar project being removed from consideration, are welcome news,” said Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey. “The blatant disregard for the cultural and social concerns of the Japanese American community, and of the Paiute and Shoshone people of the Owens Valley, by those seeking quick profits was a familiar theme.”
You can read about how Japanese Americans joined with Native Americans to stop the two projects in Sierra Wave.