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Randy Watkins

@bluetortoise3.bsky.social

980 followers 640 following 180 posts

Lead Field Biologist on large water and power projects in the Eastern Mojave, from 1999-2010 for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Link: https://www.snwa.com/infrastructure-improvements/intake3-pumping-station/index.html

www.snwa.com

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · Aug 4

I’ve been working on the NV Energy Greenlink West project since March as an Authorized Biologist (A.B.). An A.B. is authorized by the USFWS to handle Threatened or Endangered species, and in the eastern Mojave Desert I handle Threatened Mojave Desert tortoises. 🐢

www.nvenergy.com/cleanenergy/...

NV Energy

NV Energy proudly serves Nevada with a service area covering over 44,000 square miles. We provide electricity to 2.4 million electric customers throughout Nevada as well as a state tourist population ...

www.nvenergy.com

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 2h

Yes it’s true. I’m not sure who used the word “streamers” first, either the biology staff or the Bechtel construction team, but the birds start smoking and then burst into flames when they fly through the mirror fields.

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 3h

For anyone interested in “Shrinking Trump” by John Garter and Harry Segal, here’s their Bluesky page.

@shrinkingtrump.bsky.social

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 4h

It was very disappointing to see psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal stop the very popular podcast “Shrinking Trump”. I thought it was very informative and, at times, very funny. What was really kind of unsettling was their reason, which was they were becoming targets due to their visibility.

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Reposted by Randy Watkins

Dr. Genevieve Guenther (she/they) @doctorvive.bsky.social · 7h

Now that we know the Executive can just permit some energy projects & refuse to permit others, if a Dem ever gets back in the White House, we should stop negotiating w oil and gas Republicans for "permitting reform" and just stop permitting fossil fuels while permitting the fuck out of clean energy.

jael holzman @jael.bsky.social · 8h

this is such a wild and weird takeaway from this situation

permitting reform will not save renewable energy if a government simply doesn’t want to issue permits

unless you’re trying to literally require permits in all cases or just end all permits ever

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 7h

“The BLM wouldn’t cancel it unless the proponents wanted it cancelled,” said Shaaron Netherton, director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness. “I just can’t think of any other reason why it would be cancelled.” We don’t know why yet and I wouldn’t make assumptions
thenevadaindependent.com/article/feds...

Feds appear to cancel Vegas-sized solar project planned in rural Nevada - The Nevada Independent

A massive solar project proposed to be built in rural Esmeralda County with a footprint roughly the size of Las Vegas appears to have been scrapped by the Bureau of Land Management.

thenevadaindependent.com

Reposted by Randy Watkins

jael holzman @jael.bsky.social · 9h

NextEra Energy has written me back saying they remain committed to their solar projects that used to be a part of Esmeralda 7

Calling them “early stage” and confirming they’ll need their own “comprehensive environmental analysis”

So, yeah, Esmeralda 7 is Joever

NextEra Energy Resources is one of six companies pursuing projects in Esmeralda County, Nevada. We are in the early stage of development and remain committed to pursuing our project’s comprehensive environmental analysis by working closely with the Bureau of Land Management.

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 11h

There has been extensive documentation of migratory/resident bird deaths caused by the ISEGS facility construction by the California Energy Commission. There’s been a monitoring program in place for birds and bats since construction was completed in 2014:
efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument....

efiling.energy.ca.gov

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 11h

The Institute for Energy Research (IER) webpage, for some reason, adds that photo of pv panels to the article when the article is forwarded or shared. There’s no photo attached to the source.

It should be this photo:

Reposted by Randy Watkins

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · 14h

Not surprising that this solar project, that burns enough gas to participate in cap and trade, was built by taxpayers and a venture capital firm advised by RFK Jr.

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 22h

I spent 4 years working on this, but it was a bad project, not least due to the location next to a big golf course w/ prominent water features that attracted large numbers of migratory birds that were incinerated flying through the solar fields. www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/big-green/ca...

California Shuts Down Its Solar Thermal Plant 13 Years Early

The Ivanpah Solar Power Facility is set to shut down in 2026 after failing to meet its energy targets. Ivanpah…

www.instituteforenergyresearch.org

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 20h

It was outdated technology almost from the beginning of construction. I’m not sure why the project was completed other than commitment, but the biology staff dealing with the wildlife problems, especially migratory birds incinerated in the mirror fields, horrified everyone including the contractors.

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Reposted by Randy Watkins

jael holzman @jael.bsky.social · 1d

SCOOP: The Bureau of Land Management says the largest solar project in Nevada — the Esmeralda 7 mega-farm — has been canceled

The news was quietly dropped via a sudden website update with no public word from any of the companies involved or a statement from the agency

@heatmap.news

Esmeralda 7 Solar Project Has Been Canceled, BLM Says

It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power.

heatmap.news

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 21h

What would you like to know?

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 22h

California Shuts Down Its Solar Thermal Plant 13 Years Early

The Ivanpah Solar Power Facility is set to shut down in 2026 after failing to meet its energy targets. Ivanpah…

www.instituteforenergyresearch.org

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 22h

Yeah, I agree Dustin. I think you’re right from what I know of working with these developers on the mitigation measures.

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 23h

This is terrible criteria for abandoning solar projects in the Mojave desert, which are not decisions based on biological resource impacts, normally accounted for and mitigated 👋, but financial feasibility without the investment tax credits. It’s bad for long-term plans for solar power development.

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 23h

Yes, I remember that article and I agree, that is happening now and it will continue to happen. Abandonment.

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 23h

It was controversial, but the reasons for the cancellation appear to be for no other reason than animosity towards solar, unless we hear something different.

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 1d

Goddamnit, that was one of the major reasons for the construction of Greenlink West by NV Energy, which I am currently working on. I was really concerned that that would happen.

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 1d

Would that be the Esmeralda Seven? I expect Trump will create chaos with solar construction in Southern California and Nevada, and create turmoil with the industry.

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 1d

I hadn’t heard of Heins, but it sounds promising. My work is w/ the construction of solar fields and transmission lines in the Mojave desert that lease federal lands for the projects and have significant environmental controls in the contracts. Prof Mulvaney might have. @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, I’ve thought about it, although up until a few weeks ago I was working on Saturdays on a green energy transmission line project in Nevada. The project has been significantly slowed by permit issues with the DOD, or should I say DOW? I wasn’t a paid subscriber, but I’m going to upgrade to paid.

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 1d

You’re one of the few people here who writes about the psychological unfitness of Trump and his effect on public mental health. I follow the psychologists Dr. Bandy Lee who published “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump”. Drs. John Gartner and Harry Segal retiring “Shrinking Trump” is disappointing.

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Reposted by Randy Watkins

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility @peer.org · 1d

Federal agencies are drawing up plans to fire employees who would typically be furloughed during a shutdown. For the National Park Service, the proposed layoffs would be devastating.

🔗 https://ow.ly/AeLE50X9fnL

#shutdown #NationalParks

COMMENTARY | Shutdown Could Provide Glimpse into the Future of Public Lands

The Department of Interior is gearing up to slash its workforce, and as past shutdowns indicate, this means danger ahead for our parks and public lands.

ow.ly

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Reposted by Randy Watkins

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 2d

🎵 They did the Monster Slash 😭 @ellecordova.bsky.social

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Reposted by Randy Watkins

Emily Pontecorvo @emilypont.bsky.social · 3d

Some additional info on the new list of axed DOE projects circulating.
- All 7 H2 Hubs
- All 13 IRA grants to convert at-risk auto plants to EV mfg
- 11 of 15 grants to speed domestic clean energy mfg in former coal communities
- 10 of 38 grants for battery materials
heatmap.news/politics/doe...

Trump to Axe All 7 Hydrogen Hubs, Bucking Bipartisan Law

A new list of Department of Energy grants slated for termination will hit clean energy and oil majors alike, including Exxon and Chevron.

heatmap.news

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