The San Joaquin Valley (“Valley”) is positioned to play a pivotal role in helping California achieve its ambitious goal to meet half of the state’s electricity demand by 2030 from renewable sources. The Valley’s temperate climate and high solar insolation has already attracted investment in over 120 solar energy facilities, which are either already operating or in the planning stages. These facilities average approximately 500 acres in size and generate 67 megawatts in energy — enough to power 16,750 homes each. They illustrate the potential for the Valley to be a major contributor to the state’s renewable energy portfolio. However, the Valley is also home to some of the richest, most productive farmland in the world while containing some of our most imperiled plants, animals and natural habitats. As a result, identifying good locations for solar projects can entail significant controversy.
A Path Forward: Identifying Least-Conflict Solar PV Development in California’s San Joaquin Valley
