California Governor Gavin Newsom has expedited the BayWa re 300 MW Cornucopia Hybrid agrivoltaic project, streamlining the permitting process and cutting delays. The project, which combines solar power with sheep grazing, will be fast-tracked using the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Senate Bills 7 and 149. These bills allow the governor to certify eligible clean energy and green housing projects for judicial streamlining and reduce CEQA-related delays. The project, which will generate 300 MW of solar power and 300 MW of battery energy storage, will be built on 1,600 acres in southwestern Fresno County. The project will include nearly 700,000 solar modules and a 300 MW battery energy storage system. The fast-tracked project is expected to be completed ahead of its original schedule, with an estimated commercial operation date of mid-2030. The Cornucopia project aims to take advantage of California’s growing demand for electricity, which is expected to increase 76% by 2045.
California accelerates the development of a revolutionary solar-powered energy storage project, a major step towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.
