A new solar project in Fresno County that would power up to 300,000 homes received a boost on Wednesday from California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom announced on Wednesday that he has certified the Cornucopia Hybrid Project, streamlining it to prevent legal challenges from bogging it down with delays.
Flashback: Senate Bill 7 was first passed in 2021 and extended in the Legislature in 2023. It gives the governor the ability to certify eligible clean energy projects for streamlining.
- That means groups who like to use the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to delay projects will have to make their challenges in a timely manner.
- Under the law, courts are required to decide CEQA challenges to certified projects within 270 days.
The big picture: The Cornucopia Hybrid Project will deliver 300 megawatts (MW) of renewable solar energy and 300 MW of battery storage, allowing the facility to provide electricity to the grid during peak demand times.
- The project will be located in southwest Fresno County, between Coalinga and the Kings County border north of Avenal.
- It will be built on around 2,400 acres of nonprime agricultural land and allow for sheep grazing alongside the solar modules.
What he’s saying: “In California, we’re in the ‘how’ business – we’re moving fast to achieve our world-leading clean energy goals,” Newsom said. “By fast-tracking critical projects like this one in Fresno, we’re creating good-paying jobs, cutting pollution, and building a cleaner, more reliable energy grid to serve Californians for generations.”
