A solar project near Las Vegas has received final federal permits to begin construction later this year

Las Vegas: A solar project that’s been the talk of the town just got the green light. It’s called the Rough Hat Clark County Solar Project, and it’s set to cover about 2,430 acres of land, about 40 miles west of the city.
The Bureau of Land Management gave the thumbs up, meaning construction can kick off later this year. Jim Woodruff from Candela Renewables, the company behind the project, is pretty excited about it. He mentioned that they’ve done a thorough review to make sure they’re being kind to the environment while getting this project off the ground.
But not everyone is on board. Some locals and environmentalists are worried about the impact on the desert tortoise, which is a threatened species. There are about 114 of these tortoises in the area, and they’ll be relocated to a nearby site that’s better suited for them.
While the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the project won’t harm the tortoise population overall, there are still concerns about potential injuries. The plan now includes keeping a good chunk of vegetation and creating access holes for wildlife.
There’s also a bit of a debate about water use. In a region where many folks rely on wells for drinking water, some think using water for solar construction isn’t the best idea. Candela plans to use a significant amount of water for building, which has raised eyebrows among locals.
Despite some protests from various groups, the project is moving forward. It seems like this solar initiative is stirring up quite a bit of conversation in the community.