Question

In the California Mojave Desert, an energy company is building a large solar­power facility. It is expected to produce enough power for 140,000 homes and also cut carbon dioxide emissions by 500,000 tons a year. The facility will be built on 4,050 acres of wildlife habitat, which is near a protected refuge for a species of desert tortoise. The decision to build this power plant is most likely based on

Answer 1

The decision to build a solar power facility in the Mojave Desert considers the environmental benefits of reducing carbon emissions and meeting energy needs while acknowledging the trade-off of building on a wildlife habitat.

Step-by-step explanation:

The decision to build a large solar power facility in the California Mojave Desert is primarily based on the environmental benefits and energy needs the facility is expected to provide. Producing enough energy to power 140,000 homes, the 377-megawatt Ivanpah Solar Generating System uses 170,000 mirrors to concentrate sunlight on water-filled towers, generating steam to drive turbines for electricity. While it offers significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, by cutting 500,000 tons a year, it also presents an environmental trade-off by being built on 4,050 acres of wildlife habitat near a protected refuge for desert tortoises.

The decision reflects a larger trend in energy production, aligning with the idea that covering a small percentage of the world's deserts with solar arrays could potentially supply the world's electricity needs. However, even though solar energy has a generally minimal environmental impact, the placement of such facilities can be problematic, as large systems may disrupt fragile desert ecosystems and the species that inhabit them.

Answer 2

Several factors have been considered before the construction was started. This includes the wildlife in the area and certain precautions have been made for their benefit and protection. This part of the Mojave Desert was chosen because it has the best potential in absorbing the sun’s energy rays at anytime of the year thus giving the assurance that the solar power supply will be enough all year round.