Boxer Supports Efforts to Move Forward on Kern County Clean Energy Projects

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today released a letter thanking Northrop Grumman for withdrawing a series of extensive public records requests it had made to Kern Country regarding renewable energy projects throughout the Mojave Desert.

Kern County officials had expressed concerns that the records requests – related to Northrop’s Tejon Ranch radar testing facility – could delay efforts to proceed with critical clean energy projects that will create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in investment in the county. At the request of Kern County officials, Senator Boxer worked with both parties to resolve the dispute.

The full text of Senator Boxer’s letter is below:

February 11, 2011

Mr. Wes Bush
Chief Executive Officer and President
Northrop Grumman Corporation
1840 Century Park East
Los Angeles, California 90067-2199

Dear Mr. Bush:

Thank you for working with my office to resolve the misunderstanding between Kern County and your company regarding the proposed locations of renewable energy projects throughout the Mojave Desert.

On January 26, 2011, I met with representatives from Northrop Grumman to discuss the reasons for the company’s extensive public records requests to Kern County on a number of proposed solar projects. The following day, the law firm representing Northrop Grumman sent a letter to Kern County officials explaining that the public records requests had been sent in error and had been withdrawn. I deeply appreciate the expeditious manner in which this situation was handled.

These renewable energy projects—which include the utilization of wind and solar energy—are extremely important to Kern County and will provide an estimated 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy power by 2015. In addition, the projects will create an estimated 9,500 construction and operational jobs and generate up to $25 billion in investments for Kern County.

Again, thank you for your willingness to swiftly resolve this issue. I look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator