Obama’s Plan to Divvy up the Desert

One of the sun’s favorite places to hang out is the desert. With its wide open spaces and high elevations, deserts create a prime spot for the sun’s rays to kick back and relax. People living in desert areas should probably consider harnessing some of that sunlight by financing a solar energy project. That’s certainly the idea President Obama has had recently.

The Plan

Just last week, the president announced a plan for renewable energy in the California desert. Think Progress, a website supporting renewable energy, reported on the plan Obama announced.

“The land management plan, known as the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP), prescribes which federal and state lands in a 22.5-million-acre area of the California desert will be available for renewable energy development,” said Think Progress.

The program also outlines which areas are off-limits for construction, in an effort to preserve the sun’s favorite hangout.

How Will It Work?

For some, this plan might sound a little far-fetched. How can the government determine the solar financing for an entire ecosystem? And is it really hot enough there to capture the sun’s rays on a mass-production level?

As solar energy becomes increasingly popular, the president is hopeful that this plan will benefit Californians, and Americans in general, for years to come. As stated by Think Progress, the “25-year blueprint for the management of 10 million acres of federally-owned public lands” stretches from Death Valley to San Diego County. With a project this large, Obama better be onto something.

According to Think Progress, 5.3 million acres have been set aside to conserve wildlife, so it’s really a win-win situation for both energy companies and environmental preservationists. As California aims to reduce its greenhouse gasses emissions by 40 percent, this plan should help introduce more energy resources. And with the increase in solar financing across the country, it would seem that this “planned desert” idea might just take off.

Emily Culp is a renewable energy writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Elements Capital Group. Follow on Twitter