The Mojave Desert is an ideal place to think about alternative energy. Not only does it have huge solar power potential, but the thermals from the mix of desert and mountains make it a great place for wind power as well. And, it has geothermal potential too.
Problem, though. A fair amount of the desert, and of the similar southern, lower-elevation Great Basin Desert in Nevada is federally locked up in national parks and monuments, or else in military bases.
Enter Google.
Google Earth is working with the National Audubon Society and the Natural Resources Defense Council, to plot where to site renewable energy facilities and where to run their power lines.
(Of course, if we got rid of some of those military bases, this would all be easier.)
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