On Wed, 09 May 2012 07:37:51 -0700, Bob Brown wrote: Approved until 2017? Have the plans for a solar farm on the lake bed in the near future gone away or was that just a bad rumor? Bob, First, a disclaimer: This is what I've gathered from conversations with a lot of different people over the last few years. I don't have any guarantees in writing, but I'm pretty confident that my conclusion is sound, even if I might be slightly off on a few of the minor details. So, here's my personal opinion -- take it for what it's worth: The solar plans for the lake bed are basically on hold indefinitely; I personally doubt they'll ever happen, at this point. The entire solar project was contingent upon the transmission lines in the area being able to handle the increased power transmission requirements. The existing ones simply aren't up to the task. There is (was?) an unrelated project, known as "Green Path" (I hate these deliberately misleading and manipulative names), which would have put in a whole new set of high-power transmission lines, running from the 10 freeway near Palm Springs, through the 29 Palms area, and all along Highway 247 from Yucca Valley to Lucerne Valley, and then along Highway 18 from Lucerne Valley through Apple Valley & Victorville to Interstate 15. This proposed project met with, shall we say, vociferous opposition from the residents whose neighborhoods would be affected. Basically, the project's dead in the water. Unless and until the "Green Path" or something like it happens, there isn't enough transmission capacity anywhere near Lucerne Valley to support a power generating station, solar or otherwise, at Lucerne Dry Lake. We're safe, for now. Cheers, - Rick Dickinson