Residents push back on California solar project as community concerns rise

A massive solar project planned for California’s Riverside County has sparked local resistance, with residents of Desert Center calling for changes to safeguard their community and environment.

Wyatt Myskow reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

• Desert Center residents want a buffer zone around their community to protect views and reduce environmental impacts from the Easley Solar Project.
• The project will span 3,600 acres, generating up to 400 megawatts of power and impacting local groundwater and air quality, sparking concerns from the EPA.
• Despite community efforts to modify the plan, the county approved it, but residents hope for further consideration during federal reviews.

Key quote:

“We’re saying yes to renewable energy. We’re saying yes to saving the planet. Just not at the expense of our communities.”

— Mark Carrington, local resident.

Why this matters:

As large-scale solar projects multiply in California’s deserts, balancing clean energy development with local concerns becomes a growing challenge. Communities like Desert Center face environmental and health risks, including dust, water depletion and habitat loss.

Read more:

• Global renewable energy has quadrupled over past decade
• Wildlife faces new challenges with large-scale solar energy projects
• Rural interest in solar energy influenced by local history and landscape concerns