Chocolate Mountains Could Generate 150 MWe (Desert Sun)
The West Chocolate Mountains Renewable Energy Evaluation Area, recently announced by new Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, covers a 64,058-acre patchwork of public and private land between the sea and the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, a military training area.
Federal officials estimate new geothermal plants in the new zone could generate about 150 MWe, enough to power 112,500-150,000 homes, according to the California Energy Commission.
The BLM has approved three geothermal leases on public land in the zone to date but no projects have been proposed on those parcels.
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