Where will they build it?

Yesterday, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein signalled her dissatisfaction with the use of broad swaths of her state's desert for use by solar energy developers. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-desert25-2009mar25,0,6168582.story. There is no doubt that large-scale solar energy has a footprint, and Feinstein has a right to be concerned about where the solar dishes, towers and panels will go as California builds up its renewable energy market. Nevertheless, the move to block 800,000 acres in the Mojave desert has more than a few renewable energy advocates scratching their heads, wondering how California believes it can meet its soon to be 33 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard -- highest in the nation -- if it declares huge portions of desert exempt from large-scale solar projects. Of course, what is California's loss may be Arizona's gain, if all of that solar development winds up moving across the Colorado River.