Largest Solar Farm In US Coming To Central Valley In California - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the development of what could become one of the largest solar farms in the United States, planned for California’s Central Valley. Due to ongoing water shortages and drought conditions, farmers in the region have been forced to leave significant portions of their land fallow, unable to cultivate crops like almonds, pistachios, and tomatoes. The Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan, approved by the Westlands Water District, proposes utilizing this uncultivated land for a massive solar installation spanning about 200 square miles—roughly four times the size of San Francisco. This project aims to generate up to 20 gigawatts (GW) of clean electricity, enough to meet about one-sixth of California’s energy needs by 2035, while also including energy storage and transmission infrastructure to distribute power beyond the Central Valley. Local farmers view the project as a beneficial solution to their water scarcity challenges, providing an alternative revenue stream that helps sustain their livelihoods amid agricultural difficulties. The solar farm will allow farmers to monetize