Stanislaus County, CA, USA; California Governor Gavin Newsom (C), and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (L) meet with NorCal Carpenters Union workers along the construction of the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for the future site of Proxima Solar Farm in Stanislaus County, California, USA, 19 May 2023. The Governor unveiled legislation to speed up construction for a streamlined process and to expedite court review on legal challenges that often tie up projects. The project is expected to create 300 construction jobs and generate $35 million in local revenue. The project is expected to be operational by December, could power 60,000 homes in the surrounding region and can generate up to 210 megawatts of clean, renewable energy and 177 megawatts of better energy storage. Mandatory Credit: John G. Mabanglo/Pool via USA TODAY NETWORK
Fresno, California – California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday that he has officially certified the Cornucopia Hybrid Solar Project, a major renewable energy initiative in Fresno County, under the state’s judicial streamlining provision of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The move is set to accelerate the construction of 300 MW of solar power, along with 300 MW of battery storage, significantly reducing the typical legal delays that can stretch from three to five years to just 270 days.
Developed by BayWa r.e. Americas, the Cornucopia project is set to power around 300,000 homes in the region, bolstering California’s renewable energy infrastructure. The combination of solar power generation and battery storage will provide crucial backup electricity, especially during peak demand periods and nighttime hours when solar generation naturally dips.
“California’s future is clean energy, and this project will play a key role in helping us meet the state’s goals for reducing fossil fuel dependence,” Newsom’s office said in a statement. This innovative project goes a step further with its agrivoltaic approach, which involves integrating sheep grazing alongside the solar panels to manage vegetation. By combining renewable energy with agricultural practices, the Cornucopia project aligns with California’s broader environmental goals, making it a model of sustainable development.
This project is the latest to benefit from a provision in California law that aims to speed up the approval process for green infrastructure. The CEQA judicial streamlining process, first authorized in 2021 and expanded in 2023, was created to fast-track projects like this, which are essential for the state’s clean energy transition. The Cornucopia Hybrid Solar Project is only the 24th project to receive this certification, marking a significant achievement for California’s push toward renewable energy.
The announcement comes just days after California regulators introduced new standards for battery storage systems in the wake of a fire at the Vistra Energy facility in Moss Landing earlier this year. The new regulations, which include mandatory emergency response and safety plans, are designed to address safety concerns in the rapidly growing field of energy storage.
California’s push for a reliable and robust grid has made battery storage a critical component of renewable energy infrastructure. Solar energy alone cannot meet the state’s growing demand due to its intermittent nature, making efficient energy storage vital to ensuring a stable power supply. The success of the Cornucopia project could serve as a blueprint for future renewable energy developments in California, helping the state reach its ambitious climate goals.
