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Home > Desert Oracle Radio > E-Group Solar project remains unapproved after 3-hour Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meeting
Podcast: Desert Oracle Radio
Episode:

E-Group Solar project remains unapproved after 3-hour Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meeting
Category: Society & Culture
Duration: 00:00:00
Publish Date: 2026-02-18 18:16:26
Description:

This Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meeting was called for a resolution to be considered for adoption, sending the E-Group Solar Project to the City Council for approval of certification of the Environmental Impact Report and several amendments to the General and Development Plans. Currently the city has a ban on solar fields within city limits. The development area is projected to be north of Two Mile road and Samarkand, east of Canyon Road, west of Noel’s Knoll and south of Amboy Road falling entirely within city limits. 

Twenty-two residents of Twentynine Palms spoke at the meeting of which 18 did not approve of the project for several different reasons, while four residents spoke in favor. The main reasons spoken against the project were the damage to the city’s esthetics and vistas, as well as excessive dust caused by grading. Claims that the quality of life for residents and tourists would be affected by this large solar field and its health damaging repercussions were repeated. Reports of “Valley Fever” cases surging by 150% also surfaced. Claims by the project developers that the solar farm would be barely visible for residents were refuted. Also mentioned, a solar field should be developed on level ground while the land being contested has a 12% grade in places and is very uneven. As there is no municipal water on the site, the developers reported that water would be trucked in to spray and settle the dust caused by grading. Residents doubted that enough water could be trucked in to attain that goal.

After a three-hour meeting and many questions, the Planning Commission decided that enough time had not been allocated for them to read the amount of information provided only four days before this meeting. Vice chair Alex Garcia made the motion to continue the discussion until the next meeting on Tuesday March 3, which Jim Krushat seconded. Max Walker voted nay and Chair Jessica Cure voted in favor.

The post E-Group Solar project remains unapproved after 3-hour Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meeting appeared first on Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree.
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