To: The Biden Administration, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and Decision Makers on the Western Solar Plan

Subject: Support a Balanced Renewable Energy Transition in the Amargosa River Watershed

Climate change is wreaking havoc across the Mojave Desert, from megadroughts and heat waves to dangerous floods. Transitioning to clean energy, especially solar power, is vital for combating this crisis. The Biden Administration’s Western Solar Plan is an important step toward decarbonizing the nation by prioritizing solar energy development on public lands in 11 western states. 

However, the plan currently leaves 220,000 acres of the Amargosa River watershed vulnerable to industrial-scale solar development, raising serious concerns about the long-term impacts on this unique and fragile desert ecosystem.

 

 

 

 

 

The Amargosa River watershed, spanning Nevada and California, is home to iconic protected areas like Death Valley National Park, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and the Amargosa Wild & Scenic River. The watershed harbors the highest concentration of unique and rare species in the U.S., including endangered species like the Devils Hole pupfish, and holds deep cultural significance for regional tribes such as the Timbisha Shoshone and Southern Paiute. The Amargosa River also supplies over 40,000 residents of frontline communities with water for domestic and commercial use.

 

Yet, over 25 solar projects have already been proposed in the watershed, threatening to deplete groundwater and fragment the habitat. The potential construction of solar farms on public lands could destroy sensitive ecosystems, harm cultural resources, and strain water supplies needed by desert communities and wildlife.

Our Request:

We, the undersigned, call on decision-makers to:

1. Exclude most or all of the Amargosa River watershed from the list of areas open for solar energy development under the Western Solar Plan.

2. Prioritize private lands already in use for agriculture for solar energy development, which would benefit rural communities, reduce groundwater stresses, and protect wildlife.

3. Preserve culturally and ecologically sensitive public lands in the Amargosa River watershed from large-scale industrial development.

4. Consider the cumulative impacts on groundwater resources and the potential harm to disadvantaged communities and tribal lands.

Sign this petition to support a renewable energy future that balances conservation with development, ensuring that the Amargosa River watershed remains a vibrant and protected ecosystem for generations to come.