Industrial scale renewable projects on land zoned for residential and commercial use, or located next to such property is wrong! The moneyed investor from out of the area buys up land cheaply through land development companies. Soon after, the surrounding land drops in value, up to as much as 50%, since no one wants to live next to an ugly, sterile industrial complex. The middle class home owner is particularly hurt, since their home usually is the majority of their life savings and retirement plan. Not to mention that the wide-open desert view that once attracted them is gone.
The investors and utility companies are legally, but immorally, stealing the life savings of these citizens. If someone were stealing the life savings of the developer's parents, you can bet that they would probably sue. But, most of us desert home owners don't have enough money to do that, nor should we have to. San Bernardino County Supervisors James Ramos and Robert Lovingood, along with their fellow supervisors, can stop this theft and injustice.
Please email them (on their websites) and ask them to amend County zoning so that Industrial Renewable Energy land cannot be constructed on or near residential or commercially zoned property. In the meantime, ask them to place a moratorium on industrial renewables to protect the citizens until the amended zoning is in place.
Bill Lembright
Lucerne Valley
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