DRECP – Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan

The California Desert Coalition held a meeting about the DRECP in Yucca Valley on April 11 to update residents about the most recent DRECP published “alternatives.”  Large-scale color maps located around the room showed that lands all around the Morongo Basin areas are at risk of becoming sites for industrial scale renewable energy development projects, as are Johnson Valley and Lucerne Valley, who were also well-represented at this well-attended presentation. Chris Carrillo, Deputy Chief of Staff for new San Bernardino County Superintendent James Ramos, was among the speakers, and carried to Supervisor Ramos the sense of concern and urgency that his constituents shared at the meeting.  Supervisor Ramos then requested that the entire Board of Supervisors have a DRECP workshop with state agency representatives.  This occurred on April 16 because of the strong showing and deep concern of many desert residents.  The Supervisors requested that DRECP leaders hold a Workshop in the Morongo Basin, and possibly another desert location, to share information and allow residents to ask questions and express concerns.  Prior meetings have all been held in Ontario, even though it is the desert residents that will be most affected.

CDC plans to seek meetings with individual Supervisors to make the case that it is imperative that the Board of Supervisors engages in the DRECP process and develops San Bernardino County policy and ordinances regarding commercial renewable energy projects within the County on private lands.  Comprehensive information about the DRECP is available on the CDC website. 

Thank you for your ongoing support and concern for maintaining the highest possible quality of life in “our” Morongo Basin and the Mojave Desert region.

Live stream the SB County Board of Supervisors Meeting tommorrow

Dear MBCA Members and Supporters:

Many Morongo Basin residents live in unincorporated areas and must rely on communication with the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to express their interests and concerns.  At the Supervisors’ meeting tomorrow, June 4, there are several critical issues on the agenda for Joshua Tree and other unincorporated Morongo Basin communities. 

Here is the news item from KCDZ radio news on June 3 describing the issues of interest: http://www.kcdzfm.com/news/fullstory060313.html#a02

While some concerned residents will be attending the meeting in person in San Bernardino, and some will attend via the video link available at the Government Center in Joshua Tree, we wanted our readers to know that the meetings are broadcast live-stream on the internet, and encourage you to view this important meeting if you can.

Here’s how to view the Board of Supervisors meeting via your computer:

The link to the meeting's live stream will appear about half an hour before the meeting schedule of 10 AM on Tuesday, June 4.

Click this link after 9:30 AM on Tuesday: http://www.sbcounty.gov/main/countydirect.asp

 

Then in the heading of Upcoming Events is the Board of Supervisors Meeting, the date, and then on the right is the link called  "View Event.”

Click that "View Event" link and there you are (hopefully!).

WANTED: 1000 Morongo Basin Voices

WANTED

1000 Morongo Basin Voices

It’s time for us to be heard.

Come find out what WE all need to do to make the

DESERT RENEWABLE ENERGY CONSERVATION PLAN

The one we want and that will protect our communities

from outside exploitation.

When: 6:30PM, Thursday, April 11, 2013

Where: Yucca Valley Community Center

Early versions of the DRECP will not achieve the protection in the Morongo Basin that its goals set.

A letter will be available for you to sign that asks for a better plan. We need to be heard NOW.

This meeting is hosted by the

California Desert Coalition

info@cadesertca.org

Meeting Monday, June 18th--Desert Renewable Energy and Wind Project Update

What:        Desert Renewable Energy and Wind Project Update
When:        Monday, June 18, 2012 – 6:30 p.m.
Where:        Yucca Valley Community Center, Yucca Room

This important meeting has been organized by the California Desert Coalition (CDC). CDC helped defeat Green Path North and continues to work toward preventing inappropriate renewable energy siting, as well as inappropriate transmission lines, in our Morongo Basin.  A multimedia presentation will provide background information on the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan and on the wind energy project planned for Black Lava Butte and Flat Top Mesa near Pioneertown by Element Power.  Community member questions will be welcomed.  Light refreshments will be available.

Open Space and Economic Development

The Morongo Basin Open Space Group has posted a summary of their Dec. 16 meeting, which focused on "The Role of Open Space in Economic Development."

Open Space Group meeting next Tuesday

The Morongo Basin Open Space Group is meeting next Tuesday, December 16th, from 1 pm to 3pm at the Yucca Valley Community Center, Yucca Room.

The program topic is “The Role of Open Space in Economic Development.”

You can view the Agenda at the MBOSG Website.

Open Space Group focuses on regional trails

From the Morongo Basin Open Space Group:

The Morongo Basin Open Space Group will host its regular bimonthly meeting on Tuesday, October 21, 2008. The meeting program will focus on regional trails and connector opportunities in the Morongo Basin and a pilot community trails project being undertaken in the City of Twentynine Palms. Anne Dove from the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service will participate, as will representatives from local government agencies, and groups involved in Coachella Valley trails development.

The Morongo Basin Open Space Group was created by local agencies and organizations as a forum to collaboratively protect unique natural landscapes and open spaces in the Basin through regional conservation and land use planning. Protecting the treasures of the Morongo Basin for both residents and visitors helps to keep our desert communities prosperous and vibrant while respecting our night skies, open vistas, and the fragile desert ecosystems of the Basin.

Location: Yucca Room, Yucca Valley Community Center, 57090 29 Palms Highway, at Dumosa Avenue. Time: 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

A portion of the meeting will invite input from local community stakeholders. The meeting is open to the public. For more information on this event, contact Stephanie Weigel at 760.367.5567 or sweigel@sonoran.org.

Open Space Group staffer at Basin Wide Foundation

At the Breakfast Meeting of the Basin Wide Foundation this Thursday:

Stephanie Weigel, Regional Land Use Planner for the Morongo Basin Open Space Group, will facilitate a short community engagement exercise as an introduction to speaking on the Open Space Group’s ongoing collaborative efforts at regional conservation and land use planning for the Morongo Basin. She will discuss Sonoran Institute’s involvement with the Open Space Group, implementation of their 2008 Action Plan, community involvement in the process, and conservation planning goals.

Thursday, July 3, 2008. Helen Gray Center at the Hi Desert Medical Center. Questions: (760) 365-7219.