Iberdrola Proposes 400MW Solar and Wind Park in ‘Undisturbed, Irreplaceable’ California Desert

Here are some of the stories our editors are reading this morning.

Los Angeles Times: Will Renewable Energy Ruin an 'Irreplaceable' Mojave Desert Oasis?

In one of the hottest, driest places on earth, velvety sand dunes surround dry lake beds that, with luck, fill with spring rains. Hidden waterways attract a profusion of wildlife and birds; submerged desert rivers periodically erupt in a riot of green.

The federal Bureau of Land Management describes the Silurian Valley as an "undisturbed, irreplaceable, historic scenic landscape."

Now, Spanish energy firm Iberdrola is proposing a wind and solar project that would cover 24 square miles of the Mojave Desert oasis.

Fortune: Vivint Solar Says Republican Congress Will Be Good for Industry

It’s a bit unusual to hear a cleantech CEO who seems to be optimistic about the arrival of a Republican congressional majority. But that’s the sentiment of Vivint Solar boss Greg Butterfield, who explained his thinking in a phone interview with Fortune.

Bloomberg: U.S. Shale Boom Masks Threats to World Oil Supply, IEA Says

The U.S. shale boom masks threats to the global oil supply, including Middle East turmoil, conflict in Ukraine, and the difficulty of unconventional oil production beyond North America, according to the International Energy Agency.

“The global energy system is in danger of falling short of the hopes and expectations placed upon it,” the IEA recently reported in its annual World Energy Outlook.

Business Insider: Uber CEO Proudly Admits He Tried to Nuke His Biggest Rival's Fundraising

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick acknowledged he tried to torpedo the funding efforts of his company's biggest rival, Lyft.

Wonkblog: Another Reason Why There’s No Stopping Uber

We already know that several prominent politicians love the idea of Uber, its free-market values, its job-creation potential, and its spirit of innovation. Apparently some of them -- or at least their staffs -- are using it, too, which bodes well for the company still battling regulators across the country.

Washington Post: Collapse of Antarctic Ice Sheet Is Underway and Unstoppable

The collapse of the giant West Antarctic ice sheet is underway, two groups of scientists said Monday. They described the melting as an unstoppable event that will cause global sea levels to rise higher than previously projected.

Scientists said the rise in sea level, which could be up to 12 feet, will take centuries to reach its peak and cannot be reversed. But they said a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions could slow the melt, while an increase could speed it slightly.