MOJAVE DESERT: News staff barred from solar site

[XemaSab]

A Press-Enterprise reporter and photographer were barred this week from entering the BrightSource Energy Co. solar development site on public land, despite assurances from the federal agency that manages the property that access should be allowed.

"We can only allow authorized personnel on this site," said Terry Copeland, site manager for Bechtel Corp., a construction company and partner in the project. He did not elaborate.

Erin Curtis, a BLM spokeswoman based in Sacramento, said afterward that BLM officials are investigating whether BrightSource violated the terms and conditions of a right-of-way agreement that allows the company to build the solar plant on public land.

"It is our absolute, firm belief that (journalists) should have been allowed on public lands as escorted by our BLM folks to see what is going on at the Ivanpah site," Curtis said. "It is public land, and we want the to public to have access to information about what is happening on public land."

http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_tortoiseside24.3bbd374.html

[Systematic Chaos]

1. Does that mean the solar couldn't save them?

:shrug:

[msongs]

2. do you suppose maybe bechtel is getting ready to gouge people ... in secret? nt

[DrunkenBoat]

3. bright source = private corp; inherent conflict in allowing private development on public land.

the land will eventually be private.

[formercia]

5. Mining the Sunlight

Sunlight is a resource, just like Gold and Silver. People have been extracting resources from Public Lands for a long time.

[druidity33]

4. K&R. nt.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Back off the tin foil...for now

Sounds like the local guy does not understand that this is different from similar major construction sites. If they get turned away after it get worked out, then there may be something to it.