habitat protection

In California, green energy enthusiasts are finding themselves pitted against endangered species advocates as environmental hurdles get in the way of the state’s renewable energy goals. It's happened elswhere in the West as well, and expect more of the same, as pressure builds to produce to produce more alternative energy.

The Los Angeles Times reports that as companies race to finalize permits and break ground by the end of next year on solar energy projects, the presence of sensitive habitat, rare plants and endangered creatures threatens to  slow or stop  some of the projects closest to securing permits.

"The development of solar-power facilities in the desert has been a top priority of the Obama administration as it seeks to ease the nation's dependence on fossil fuels and curb global warming. In addition, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has urged that the state meet one-third of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020.

Companies are racing to finalize their permits and break ground by the end of next year, which would qualify them to obtain some of the $15 billion in federal stimulus funds designated for renewable energy projects.

I just can't help rooting for the bears of Aspen. Much as I would hate to be that Aspen guy, in his own house last night, only to discover an angry bear ready to tousle me. Or author Susan Orlean, coming home to my vacation cabin, only to find bears had rummaged through my fridge, and consumed the OJ. Or any one of the couple of dozen people who have met up with bears over this summer.  My gosh, would I be upset. Still, the guys with guns are winning, and you know, the bears were there first.

In Aspen last night, the guy heard his dogs going crazy and he attempted to round them up. He was upstairs when the bear came on up and attacked him. After he was injured, he got back downstairs, got a window open, and the bear went out. He was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, the Aspen Times reports. But the bear has a death sentence.

Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman Randy Hampton said a trap has been set and seven DOW officers were on scene. Authorities were patrolling the neighborhood.

"Obviously if we find the bear, we'll put him down," Hampton said.

 I like to think that this year the bears had a conference, and they decided to get out there and be proactive. Well, it's probably not gonna work, guys. But they must have seen other options failing. Friendliness didn't work in Montana. In August, wildlife officials shot and killed a 17-year-old female grizzly guilty of being "disturbingly friendly" to campers. One of her cubs bled to death from the tranquilizing dart. The other cub went to the Bronx zoo.  So why not bring it in Colorado, they might have reasoned. But the score isn't pretty so far.