The federal and state governments want to use federal land to develop renewable energy projects while protecting sensitive habitat in California. California officials hope that such effort would help the state meet a 33 percent renewable energy goal by 2020. California’s deserts are prime locations for solar and wind farms, however, they are very ecologically delicate habitats.
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/jan/09/desert-plan-could-fast-track-green-energy-projects/