Nevada residents outraged as famed Joshua trees are bulldozed to make way for solar farm
Story by Katie Hawkinson • 11h
A Joshua tree pictured in Las Vegas, Nevada overlooking a golf course.
Nevada residents are rallying against a solar farm that bulldozed several Joshua trees.
Estuary Power, an energy-generation company that operates in the western U.S., closed a $340 million deal to establish a solar and storage project in Nevada’s Mojave Basin. Now, several famous Joshua trees have been bulldozed to make way for the operation, and residents are angry, reported local outlet 8 News Now.
Local residents are concerned about the destruction of the Joshua trees, many of which are the species Yucca jaegeriana. Two endangered species, the desert tortoise and southwestern willow flycatcher, also live in the area — but a report from state officials says they likely won’t be impacted, 8 News Now reports.
The iconic desert “trees” — actually huge succulents — are cherished by many for their resiliency, and haunting shapes of shaggy trunks and spiky leaves. They’re a critical part of the desert ecosystem, providing habitat for birds, mammals, insects and lizards.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nevada-residents-outraged-as-famed-joshua-trees-are-bulldozed-to-make-way-for-solar-farm/ar-AA1xl6UP?ocid=widgetonlockscreen&cvid=ad43eb2525194c228e37a387f2cbd256&ei=117