A massive solar and battery storage project proposed for west Kern County is moving forward after county supervisors got their first look at the plan during a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.
The proposal would cover nearly 12,000 acres across seven sites in the Buttonwillow, Shafter and Wasco areas. Supporters say the project would bring economic benefits and provide an alternative use for farmland affected by water shortages, but it is also drawing concern from the agricultural community because it would be built on farm land.
The Kern County Farm Bureau said in a statement it supports landowners and their decisions based on their circumstances, but added, “We would much rather see efforts focused on securing additional and reliable water resources to keep this land in agricultural use.”
Craig Murphy, Kern County director of Planning and Natural Resources, said the project sites are on farmland that could otherwise sit unused because of limited water supplies.
“It’s located on farmland that would otherwise be fallowed due to significant water shortages. Thereby providing farmers alternatives to their economic losses. And providing water resources to those areas of their land that is most productive and has the most productive soils,” Murphy said.
No one spoke against the proposal at the meeting. The four supervisors who were present voted in favor of moving it forward. District 4 Supervisor David Couch was not in attendance.
Murphy said the sites would provide $8 million annually in tax revenue, 1,300 construction jobs and 20 full-time employees during operations.
Kevin Brokish, vice president of Avantus, the company that owns the project, said the project could be affected by tax laws if it begins after 2029.
“While we’ve been working on this project for many years, now is time of the essence to move it forward,” Brokish said.
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The presentation marked the first step in the proposal, with more hearings and reviews expected.