Renewable Energy Initiatives Delayed in California, Parks Lose Thousands

Deep-set and long-running disagreements between federal agencies and Southern California Edison have delayed millions of dollars worth of renewable energy projects meant to power facilities in California’s national parks and forests.

To wit: an $800,000 solar panel project at Death Valley National Park, photovoltaic panels at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area visitor center, and a solar power system at the U.S. Forest Preserve’s Mono Lake facility are just a few of the contracts stalled by the fed’s inability to reach an agreement with Edison regarding how to fit the projects into the state’s electrical grid. All of these projects are of course funded by John Q. Taxpayer.

Though it would be easy to point the finger at Edison and the general resistance in the private market to alternative energy initiatives, the blame here lies with the fed. Generally speaking, according to federal law, federal agencies are not supposed to make deals that could leave them liable for future damages. Once again, it is a money issue, but one of the federal government, as these pet-projects are dollar commitments that Congress hasn’t exactly allocated. Lots of red tape when the fed and the private market try to make a baby.

However, other utilities in California have made similar arrangements with the fed without impasse, and indeed very few road bumps.

The situation has caused the parks to struggle to meet their renewable energy goals, in the face of federal orders to reduce their carbon footprint. In addition, the parks are losing tens of thousands of dollars from utility bills during the stall.

“It is disappointing to see this big investment sitting idle when we could easily flip the switch and produce benefits,” said park superintendent Woody Smeck.”We are purchasing electricity from SCE, whereas we could be using renewable energy from the sun and returning power to the grid.”

Death Valley National Park superintendent Sarah L. Craighead lamented solar projects that have been switched off for nearly two years:

“We have been trying to get these agreements in place for quite some time. Everything is just sitting in the queue,” she said. “We want to turn these things on.”

Death Valley park officials hope that the revamped visitor’s center will reduce their energy costs by 70%.

What do you think? How can they reach an agreement to get these renewable energy projects up and running?