RISE ELA Grade 8 Practice Questions - RISE English Language Arts - Grade 8 Exam

Informational Article: 'Harnessing the Sun in the Great Basin' The Great Basin region of Utah receives over 300 sunny days each year, making it one of the most promising locations for solar energy development in the Intermountain West. In recent years, public utility companies and private enterprises have collaborated to build utility-scale photovoltaic solar farms across rural counties. These facilities capture solar radiation and convert it into clean electricity for thousands of homes. However, expanding solar infrastructure requires balancing land use priorities. Conservationists emphasize that large solar installations must avoid sensitive desert tortoise habitats and fragile sagebrush ecosystems. By utilizing degraded agricultural parcels and brownfields rather than pristine wilderness, energy developers are finding innovative ways to power communities while preserving Utah's unique natural heritage. Which statement best captures the central idea of the article?