YUCCA VALLEY - Two environmental groups have filed lawsuits against this town and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., challenging a planned Wal-Mart Supercenter. In separate lawsuits filed Wednesday in San Bernardino County Superior Court, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Morongo Basin Conservation Association allege that bringing the big-box retailer to the low desert community would increase greenhouse emissions and spur "economic degradation" and "urban decay."
Yucca Valley Town Manager Andy Takat was out of the office Thursday and unavailable for comment.
Town Clerk Janet Anderson said she had not yet received the lawsuits and therefore could not comment.
The nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity alleges Wal-Mart isn't living up to its goal of supplying 100 percent renewable energy to its stores by refusing to incorporate cost-effective features like solar panels.
"It's time for Wal-Mart to put its money where its mouth is and promote renewable energy for every new store, as it's committed to," said Jonathan Evans, a spokesman for the center. "It can't reach the goal of 100 percent renewable energy by ignoring solar panels in the desert."
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