For many in the Owens River Valley in Southern California, Owens Lake was their livelihood. In 1913, Los Angeles siphoned the water for city use — across a mountain range and more than 200 miles. The resulting aqueduct was considered by many to be a crime against the people in the surrounding area and the waterfowl that called the lake home.

Today, there may be some economic and environmental redemption for that land, with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power unanimously voting in favor of a 616 acre solar array on the dry bed of Owens Lake.

The solar project doesn’t have the green light just yet. It must first pass through the California State Lands Commission — the same regulatory body that has preferred to transmit solar power from Arizona than build in-state power plants in the past. The plans will also have to get approved by the federal government, which could be tricky.

“Generally, the county has been looking at the potential for renewable energy projects to generate economic activity and fill the county coffers, since mining has been regulated out of business,” says Inyo County official Kevin Carunchio.

The proposed 616 acres would supply 50 megawatts of power by 2012 — about half a percent of Los Angeles’ power needs. It would also conserve 2,460 acre-feet of the water used to control dust problems annually. This water is worth $1.7 million every year. Long term, the Owens Lake site has the potential to cover thousands of acres in solar panels. It could reach into the gigawatt range, capable of powering Los Angeles during business hours.