‘We Saved Our Mesa’ Victory Picnic Held

By LAURA ROBISON

The Progress

Over 300 people gathered at the Overton Park on Saturday, November 13, to celebrate the ‘Save Our Mesa’ (SOM) victory to stop a huge industrial-grade solar power facility from being built on the top of Mormon Mesa, just east of Logandale and Overton.

The celebration highlighted local businesses and vendors, with 19 different vendor booths available. There was a kids section which featured rock painting and games, as well as locals selling toys, jewelry, clothes, sweets and jelly, Tupperware and many more. Some of the entertainment consisted of local dance groups who danced their hearts out and local ventriloquist Clint Brill and his sidekick, Timmy Tom.

Free hot dogs were provided by SOM, paid for with the revenue they had raised last year for legal fees.
A free drawing was held with ‘Biker Bob’ Kuczera asking trivia questions. The first person to answer correctly won a prize, many of which had been donated by local businesses. Rick Houston was the DJ, and live entertainment was provided by WillPhilChange.

Stella Robinson, who has been a Snowbird for 8 years, was at the park and said, “It is a miracle that such a small group took on big business and won.”

Cindy McLaughlin and Judie Kneedy were attendees on Saturday and were thrilled with the way the community came together for the cause. “We went to all the meetings, said many prayers, and we are glad the way things turned out in this David and Goliath situation,” McLaughlin said.

The picnic celebrated the victorious end to a year-long battle. In July, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) notified local resident and Save Our Mesa co-founder Lisa Childs, that the 9,180 acre Battle Born Solar Project had officially been withdrawn by applicant Arevia Power.

“I wish we could take full credit but ultimately it was BLM’s decision to keep the project in a low priority,” said Childs. “There were many environmental, cultural and historical issues along with our opposition.”

Only a year before in July 2020, Childs had heard about the intentions to develop the the solar plant, proposed to be an 850 megawatt photovoltaic solar energy generating facility, atop the nearby mesa. She felt that the project would destroy the area and that most local residents would feel the same way. Along with local resident Kat Lounsbury, Childs started Save Our Mesa, to develop ideas on fighting this big corporation and put a stop to the project. It took the effort of many volunteers and stakeholders who contacted every agency they could, to get to the end result.

The purpose of SOM was to fight to save the community and its economy. Childs stated “Many tourists flock to visit our hidden gem. Art, history, hiking, biking, horseback riding and off-roading are among the favorites that are enjoyed in our area. We needed to protect our way of life out here”.

Childs wrapped things up by saying, “We wanted to give back to the community and to all who helped in any way possible.” Thanks to everyone who supported us and saved our Mesa.”