In Roach Dry Lake, Nev., millions of acres of public desert were set aside for the development of solar power by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Solar farms were to be developed on these lands by 2015, yet so far there is no sign of any. Companies like Goldman Sachs with no solar industry history have taken out contracts on the land, preventing others from leasing and developing the land.
Even after the worst oil spill disaster in U.S. history, despite lip service to the idea, the development of safe, renewable energy sources such as solar power is not being pursued vigorously by government agencies. Instead, some corporations have been allowed to jump in and stake a claim on public land to prevent others from getting a leg up in the competition.
Under capitalism, protecting the rights of corporations is a higher priority than protecting people or the environment.
