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Randy Watkins

@bluetortoise3.bsky.social

990 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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Reposted by Randy Watkins

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 1h

If anyone is interested in going far away from civilization for whatever reason, here’s a job in Antarctica.

jobs.antarctica.gov.au/jobs-in-anta... 🧪🦑🌎

Wildlife Biologist (Macquarie Island)

Survey wildlife on Macquarie Island, monitor avian flu, collect samples, manage data, plan field trips, and support reporting in a remote team.

jobs.antarctica.gov.au

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Reposted by Randy Watkins

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility @peer.org · 2d

How does rising authoritarianism threaten environmental protection and public service? Experts from PEER, Environmental Protection Network, and Next Interior shared their insights during last week's webinar.

Watch the recording today.
🔗 https://ow.ly/EPQ950X9QH7

#CivilService #PublicEmployees

Webinar | Environmental Protection, Public Service, and the Rise of Authoritarianism

Listen in on an important discussion on the threats to environmental protection and public employees during the rise of authoritarianism.

ow.ly

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Reposted by Randy Watkins

jael holzman @jael.bsky.social · 1d

glad the AI slop machine enjoys my work

Ai Gen esmeralda 7 cancelled written on big sign next to solar farm built?

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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 2d

David Horsey, Seattle Times

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jael holzman @jael.bsky.social · 3d

BLM is now trying to say the Esmeralda 7 solar project is not canceled because now companies have to submit their projects individually for environmental review.

This, err, means it is canceled, because what was once a giant solar project is now a bunch of separate little independent solar projects

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management responded to 8 News Now on Friday afternoon to clarify the meaning of a “canceled” notice on the Esmeralda Seven Solar Project. A decision to combine the environmental reviews for the seven projects is being changed to give each project the option of submitting their proposal separately. The BLM’s statement: “During routine discussions prior to the lapse in appropriations, the proponents and BLM agreed to change their approach for the Esmeralda 7 Solar Project in Nevada. Instead of pursuing a programmatic level environmental analysis, the applicants will now have the option to submit individual project proposals to the BLM to more effectively analyze potential impacts.”

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Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 4d

“The proponents and BLM agreed to change their approach for Esmeralda 7 Solar,” BLM spokesperson Kristen Peters said. “Instead of pursuing a programmatic level environmental analysis, they have the option to submit individual project proposals to the BLM”.
www.reviewjournal.com/business/ene...

Feds cancel review of Vegas-sized solar farm in Nevada desert

Esmeralda 7 in Nevada would have been among the nation’s largest solar projects. The Bureau of Land Management has listed the Nevada project as canceled since Thursday.

www.reviewjournal.com

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 4d

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 · 4d

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 · 4d

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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Dr. Genevieve Guenther (she/they) @doctorvive.bsky.social · 4d

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 · 5d

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 · 5d

“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 · 5d

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 · 5d

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 · 5d

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 · 5d

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 · 5d

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 · 5d

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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jael holzman @jael.bsky.social · 5d

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 · 5d

What would you like to know?

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 5d

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 · 5d

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 · 5d

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 · 5d

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

Randy Watkins @bluetortoise3.bsky.social · 5d

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 · 5d

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 · 5d

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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