Sunday, January 4, 2026

21 Gigawatts of Photo voltaic for California Land That Can No Longer Be Used for Agriculture


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There’s a water district in San Joaquin Valley in California the place there’s empty land that “can not maintain irrigated agriculture.”

The Westlands Water District board of administrators have selected a plan for this land. They’ll have solar energy crops constructed there — maybe 21 gigawatts of them.

Feels like wonderful use of dry, empty land that isn’t appropriate for different issues. And, hey, possibly it is going to even assist to replenish the soil on the market.

The Valley Clear Infrastructure Plan could also be appear sensible and smart, nevertheless it’s additionally a “main land-repurposing initiative” that may be a new strategy to coping with fallowed land. The water district claims that it’s going to “protect the long-term viability of agriculture within the San Joaquin Valley” and permit farmers “to pay attention restricted water provides on their most efficient and resilient acreage.” California faces main points with drought, restricted water provide, rising inhabitants, and large agricultural wants.

“California legislation AB 2661, enacted in September, authorizes the water district to develop, assemble and personal photo voltaic era, battery storage and transmission amenities as recognized within the plan. The legislation additionally requires the district to undertake a neighborhood advantages plan with enter from native communities, a requirement the district has endorsed. A neighborhood advantages plan sometimes includes funds from a undertaking proprietor to the neighboring neighborhood,” pv journal writes.

“The Westlands Water District is the nation’s largest agricultural water district, encompassing 1,000 sq. miles and offering water to 700 farms with a mean dimension of 875 acres, in western Fresno and Kings Counties.”

Featured picture by Jw4nvc, CC BY-SA 4.0through Wikimedia Commons


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