Blog
4,000-acre wind farm gets Board approval
ROSAMOND — The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved a nearly 4,000-acre wind farm west of Rosamond at its March 28 meeting. The Keyhole Wind Energy Project, from EDF Renewables, would place up to 45 turbines, producing up to 100 megawatts of electricity, on 3,920 acres a half-mile north of Rosamond Boulevard and west of 170th Street West.
NASA Flight Research Center will see stable funding
EDWARDS AFB — The NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base will see stable funding to continue existing projects in the Biden Administration’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.
Subdivided tract map for housing gains approval
LANCASTER — The Lancaster Planning Commission approved a tentative tract map to subdivide about 10 acres at the southeast corner of 65th Street West and Avenue J-8 into 36 single-family residential lots.
Planners OK hydrogen plant permit
LANCASTER — The Lancaster Planning Commission approved a Conditional Use Permit and adopted a mitigated negative declaration for the expansion of the existing Heliogen Research and Development facility at 431 East Ave. K-4.
Air Force gives another peek at the B-21 Raider
PALMDALE — The public has another view of the secretive B-21 Raider stealth bomber, under development by Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, as the Air Force released new photos of the initial aircraft last week.
City OKs deal to add interchanges
LANCASTER — The City Of Lancaster will pay Granite Construction Co. approximately $32.59 million to construct a new freeway interchange at Avenue J, including new retaining walls as well as a northbound off-ramp and a southbound on-ramp.
Impulse Space Company expands Mojave presence
MOJAVE — Impulse Space, a company developing spacecraft to provide on-orbit maneuvering and has joined the race for the first commercial mission to Mars, is expanding its presence at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
Palmdale, Santa Monica talk housing
PALMDALE — The City of Santa Monica has approached Palmdale about using land to build housing to help meet Santa Monica’s state-required new housing development goals. “They are land-poor and we are land-rich,” City Manager Ronda Perez said when she informed the City Council on Wednesday of the yet-undefined proposal.
As trains tear from L.A. to Vegas at 180 mph, bighorn sheep will have safe passage
A set of three wildlife crossings — meant to provide safe passage for bighorn sheep and other animals — has been added to the plans for a high-speed rail line project between Las Vegas and Southern California. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the state Department of Transportation and rail builder Brightline West announced on Wednesday their agreement to design and build the crossings over the planned 218-mile rail line, slated to occupy the center divider of the heavily trafficked 15 Freeway. Construction of the rail line is slated to begin in the second half of 2023 with completion expected in as many as four years, Brightline said.
Pearblossom water project reaches milestone
PALMDALE — A milestone was reached Thursday for a proposed underground water storage project near Pearblossom that would store surplus water in the underground aquifer from the State Water Project during wet years. The governing Board of the Antelope Valley State Water Contractors Association, which includes the Palmdale Water District, Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency and Littlerock Creek Irrigation District, accepted the Big Rock Creek Draft Feasibility Plan.
Zoning codes are needed for General Plan
PALMDALE — As the city approved a new General Plan last fall, it is now faced with adopting the corresponding zoning code to implement it. The Planning Commission on Thursday took the first step in that process by recommending the revised zoning code be adopted by the City Council next month, but with some small changes as a compromise with developers to increase the flexibility in some areas.
City considers $17.5M for Yellen Park
PALMDALE — The City Council on Wednesday will consider awarding a $17.5 million construction contract to build out the remaining 12 acres of Yellen Park. The project, the second phase of the park, which opened in 2018 at 50th Street East and Avenue S, will include a community building, additional restrooms, an additional playground for children ages 2 to 5, picnic areas, a multi-use field and futsal courts. It will also feature additional lighting along walkways, drought-tolerant landscaping and natural grass and artificial turf areas, according to the staff report.
Amendment allows 873 residential lots
LANCASTER — The Lancaster City Council approved an amendment to the Avanti North Specific Plan housing development that will modify the development standards and allow for an increase in residential lots. The amendment allows a maximum of 873 single-family residential lots in the area generally bound by avenues K and K-8 and 62nd and 70th streets west.
Consultant for parks Master Plan to be hired
PALMDALE — The City Council, on Wednesday, hired a consultant to help develop a long-awaited Parks and Recreation Master Plan to provide a blueprint for future parks facilities and improvements.
Palmdale touts economic development success
PALMDALE — Palmdale is building on the economic development successes that earned it the 2021 Los Angeles County’s Most Business-Friendly City award in the 26th annual Eddy Awards, the city’s Economic and Community Development team reported, during a Jan. 18 presentation to the City Council.
City eyes potential hydrogen facility
LANCASTER — The City of Lancaster will spend up to approximately $3.27 million to purchase a vacant tax-defaulted parcel at Avenue H-6 and Trevor Avenue and a neighboring estimated 14.13-acre parcel at Avenue H and Division Street.
AVTA passes 10 million electric miles
LANCASTER — The Antelope Valley Transit Authority closed out 2022 with another milestone as the nation’s first and largest all-electric local bus fleet to pass 10 million electric miles, at the end of December.
City eyes funds for affordable housing plan
LANCASTER — The City of Lancaster has been allocated approximately $2.45 million in one-time federal funds that could be used for proposed affordable housing with wrap-around services. The funds are from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME-American Rescue Plan Act. The city hired consultant MDG Associates Inc. to prepare a proposed allocation plan for the funds.
AVC eyes grant for housing construction
LANCASTER — Antelope Valley Community College District administrators hope to secure an approximately $60.68 million Affordable Student Housing Grant from the state to fund the cost of construction for a proposed student housing project that could house up to 300 students.
BYD Overcomes Tesla to Become World's Largest EV Maker
Chinese automaker BYD outsold Tesla by a wide margin last year with the help of its inexpensive electric cars. BYD has now become the biggest EV maker in the world.