In April 2024, Senator Alex Padilla, then-Senator Butler, and Representative Raul Ruiz urged President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to establish Chuckwalla National Monument in the California desert. They also introduced legislation to achieve this same goal. As they made this call to action, both Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz highlighted the close collaboration that had taken place with the renewable energy industry and utilities during the development of the Chuckwalla proposal: 

“Our proposal reflects the input of tribal leaders who have fought for years to protect these sacred landscapes, and from our partners in the energy industry who worked with us to carefully craft the Monument’s boundaries to ensure we can meet our shared clean energy goals. – Senator Padilla.

“I am particularly proud of the collaboration and leadership from a robust coalition, including local tribal leaders, conservationist groups, members of the renewable energy industry, utility companies, community organizations, and youth leaders. They have built the necessary momentum and agreements to ensure this project’s success. This monument will play an important role in addressing California’s and our nation’s climate change goals while promoting the growth of renewable energy.” – Dr. Ruiz

The proposed boundaries of the Chuckwalla National Monument were specifically drawn to avoid areas identified as suitable for renewable energy development. This ensures that that monument is complementary to the goals of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP), which identified areas suitable for renewable energy development as well as lands that should be safeguarded for their biological, cultural, recreation, and other values. In fact, the DRECP identified many of the lands in the monument as being important to conserve for their biological values. Permanently protecting these lands helps ensure a balanced approach to the development of renewable energy and public land conservation in the California desert.

In turn, leaders of six renewable energy companies and utilities voiced their support for the effort, including Clearway Energy Group, Edison International, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Large-scale Solar Association, American Clean Power Association, and EDF Renewables. Here’s what they said about their support for the monument:

“This legislation is a testament to the reality that conservation and renewable energy progress go hand in hand. We are grateful to Senator Padilla, Senator Butler, and Representative Ruiz for their tireless and collaborative work to protect biological and cultural areas while advancing our county’s clean energy goals. We join lawmakers in urging President Biden to designate this monument.” – Raisa Lee, Sr. Director of Development, Clearway Energy Group

“Achieving California’s decarbonization goals by 2045 requires rapidly expanding the energy grid to connect solar, wind and other renewables. The Chuckwalla National Monument will protect environmental resources and tribal lands while creating an energy corridor for the electric power lines essential for the state’s clean energy future.” – Pedro J. Pizarro, President and CEO, Edison International

“The solar and storage industry commends Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz for their efforts to ensure we balance our clean energy, conservation, and environmental justice goals in the Chuckwalla National Monument proposal. SEIA worked closely with these groups to reach an agreement that will help achieve our nation’s clean energy goals on public lands and make sure we preserve areas of biological and cultural significance. Today’s legislation is an important step toward this vision.” – Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

“The Large-scale Solar Association, representing solar energy developers who produce clean energy in the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan area in California, appreciates the valuable assistance of Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz in incorporating into their bills the agreements that all the stakeholders reached in working on the Chuckwalla National Monument proposal. Today’s legislation and map address our concerns about potential conflicts between a national monument and adjacent solar development focus areas and needed transmission pathways. The agreement will help ensure that the State’s plan for 100% renewable energy is successful, that Congressional and Administration goals for renewable energy on public lands are met, and that land with biological and cultural resource value is conserved. Thanks again to Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz for their support.” – Shannon Eddy, Executive Director of the Large-scale Solar Association

“This compromise achieves conservation interests while enabling the buildout of solar generation and clean power transmission necessary to achieve California’s renewable energy goals. We greatly appreciate Sen. Padilla, Sen. Butler and Rep. Ruiz working with all stakeholders to achieve an outcome that advances the state’s clean energy and environmental future. – Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association

“EDF Renewables appreciates the hard work by Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz and all the stakeholders who have worked on the Chuckwalla National Monument proposal. Today’s legislation and map address our initial concerns about potential conflicts between a national monument and adjacent solar development focus areas. The state of California and the Biden Administration share a commitment to rapid renewable energy deployment and land and tribal resource conservation. We have engaged in this process with balancing those imperatives and appreciate the dedicated and detailed work to meet those objectives in this proposal. – Virinder Singh, Vice President, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, EDF Renewables