Boron, a small town in the Mojave Desert, faces environmental and health concerns due to the Aratina Solar Project. Residents express distress over the destruction of local Joshua trees and worry about the transmission of valley fever caused by dust from the project's construction. The main concern is not just the ecological damage but also the health risks posed by the dust, especially since the project lies close to an elementary school. Community discussions reveal a shared sentiment of loss and anxiety over the rapid changes brought on by the project.
"They're just destroying this place," Jerry Gallegos, longtime Boron resident and co-president of the museum, said at the meeting. "They're plowing down 3,000 Joshua trees right now, taking chainsaws and cutting them down three at a time."
"I know all the talk's been about Joshua trees, but the real concern is valley fever," resident Roy Richards said. "I've seen sand and dust blowing off the project, and it'll go 4 or 5 miles. And this is less than half a mile from an elementary school."
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