Ca solar plan cut in half to save desert tortoise

BARSTOW, Calif. 
The size of a solar project in the Mojave Desert has been cut nearly in half to save habitat for the endangered desert tortoise.

The Calico Solar Project now will stretch over 4,600 acres of public land near Barstow. Houston-based Tessera reduced the project this month from 8,230 acres after a wildlife survey showed 104 protected tortoises on the site. Only 10 of the animals were found in the smaller area.

The project, which the California Energy Commission will consider next month, would produce 663.5 megawatts of electricity.

Last week, the commission approved a 370-watt project in the same area. The Oakland-based BrightSource project was also scaled back because of the tortoise.