We are located close to the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation, the Native Americans there call it the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe: http://mojaveindiantribe.com/. A large solar power plant has been proposed, situated on tribal land. It would produce a lot of added income as well as employment. The tribe is very progressive, much more so than others we have lived amongst such as the Gila River, Apache, and Navajo. They actively farm immense fields of cotton, melons, and alfalfa, in addition to a most prosperous and presentable Resort/Casino Hotel. All along the Colorado River. Their Indian name actually means People by the River. A recent meeting was held discussing the proposed power plant. Many, including some tribal elders, expressed dissent. Mostly, their arguments against the facility centered about loss of the traditional crops production, as well as religious argument. There is a hypocritical situation here. These folks do not live in hogans and shanties like many Navajos. They demand, and use, modern facilities, utilize code-approved sanitary facilities, and enjoy the convenience of heated and (mostly around here) cooled homes, such being provided by electric power. The tribe operates a fossil-fuel fired power plant which is tied to the grid. Personally, I lean toward favoring the new solar plant. Many do not. I wonder what impressions might form regarding this proposition, among folks set apart from this area. The sun shines here 300+ days a year, making solar really favorable. Frank
That's the problem when you introduce progress to people. There would always be a resistance. Over here, we have a mothballed nuclear plant that is being planned to be revived. But the people in the town where that plant is located have risen in protest even before the proposal to revive was formalized. When a road widening is planned, you can see posters in the streets that says No To Widening. In any major projects of the government, there is always a resistance. Talk of the bad side of democracy. That's the big difference in communist China where any project would go smoothly because the public obliges to the directives of the government agency. That's the main reason that I see for China's industrialization in their provinces.