Soda Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Soda Mountains |
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Northern Soda Mountains
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,102 m (3,615 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| District | San Bernardino County |
| Range coordinates | 35°12′59.930″N 116°14′3.066″W / 35.21664722°N 116.23418500°W |
| Topo map | USGS West of Soda Lake |
The Soda Mountains are a mountain range found in the eastern Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California, USA. These mountains are located north of Interstate 15, which is a major highway, and are west of the town of Baker.
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Exploring the Soda Mountains' Location
The Soda Mountains reach a height of about 1,102 meters (or 3,615 feet) at their western end. They are positioned between other mountain ranges. To the north, you'll find the Avawatz Mountains. To the south, the Bristol Mountains are located. The Cronese Mountains are also nearby, situated southwest of the Soda Mountains.
Understanding the Soda Mountain Solar Project
The Soda Mountain Solar Project was a plan to build a large solar power plant. It was proposed by a company called Regenerate Power from Menlo Park, California.
Why Was the Project Proposed?
The idea for this project first came up in 2007. The goal was to build a solar plant that could produce 358 megawatts (MW) of electricity. This plant would cover 2,557 acres of land owned by the United States government, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This plan was part of a bigger effort by the government to create more clean energy on public lands.
Changes to the Project Plan
By 2015, the BLM decided to make the project smaller. They reduced it to 287 MW and 1,923 acres. This change was made to help protect wildlife in the area, especially Bighorn sheep. The BLM also said that Regenerate Power needed to get special permits from the local government, the San Bernardino County Supervisors. This meant the county supervisors would have the final say on the project.
Why the Project Was Not Approved
On August 23, 2016, the San Bernardino County Supervisors decided not to approve the project. They voted against the Environmental Impact Report, which is a study that looks at how a project might affect the environment. The supervisors felt that the project would harm the natural desert land and would not bring enough benefits to the people living nearby.
Supervisor Josie Gonzales, who represents the 5th district, suggested that the project might be reconsidered if the company could offer cheaper electricity to San Bernardino County residents. This would help make up for the negative impacts of the plant. Even though the project faced this challenge, the CEO of Regenerate Power, Reyad Fezzani, still hoped to move forward with their plans.
