Skip to Content

California Forever promises to combine solar energy production with agriculture in Solano County

By Steve Large

Click here for updates on this story

    SOLANO COUNTY, California (KOVR) — The people behind the effort to build a new city in Solano County are also promising to build the biggest solar farm in the western United States in partnership with UC Davis. And this one would share space with livestock.

The idea is for sheepherding and solar panels to share space in parts of Solano County.

The agri-solar farm would be big enough to power 1.5 million households.

Bronson Johnson is a sustainability engineer who works for California Forever, the company seeking to change zoning laws to build a new city and homes here.

“I’m 46,” Johnson said. “I’m a renter. Father of three.”

Johnson knows California’s housing problem first-hand. He says prices have kept his family out of home ownership.

“Yeah, still on the outside looking in,” Johnson said.

California Forever released a statement about the agri-solar partnership with UC Davis.

“We are excited about the opportunity to use agrivoltaics to combine solar energy production with agriculture and habitat restoration on the same parcels of land in a way that is both economically and environmentally sustainable, while preserving the character of the area,” Bronson said.

The solar panels would sit above the sheep grazing on it.

“So the vision is how do we maintain the bucolic feel,” Johnson said.

Townhalls meant to create support for the California Forever plan have also revealed outrage.

People have voiced concerns the plan will create too much traffic and alter their way of life.

California Forever has been gathering signatures to get a zoning change on the November ballot.

They’ll need to submit 13,000 verified signatures by early May.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: CNN - Regional

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KION 46 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content