On January 9th 2012, the Obama administration officially announced a ban on new mining on lands near Grand Canyon National Park. The 20-year ban will not affect any existing claims but will prevent any new mining claims in the area which have increased 2,000 percent in the past seven years.

This wind farm on the San Gorgonio Mountain Pass in the San Bernadino Mountains contains more than 4000 separate windmills and provides enough electricity to power Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley.

Developed beginning in the 1980s, it is one of three major wind farms in California, along with those at Altamont and the Tehachapi passes. The gateway into the Coachella Valley, the San Gorgonio Pass is one of the windiest places in Southern California.