California Farmers Turn Dry Land Into America's Biggest Solar Farm

California farmers are turning their biggest problem into America's most powerful solution.

In the heart of California's Central Valley, 700 farms have been leaving a quarter of their land unplanted every year. Droughts have dried up their water supply, forcing thousands of acres to sit empty while farmers watched their livelihoods shrink.

Now those same farmers are saying yes to a game-changing idea. The Westlands Water District just approved the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan, which will cover 136,000 acres of dry farmland with solar panels. When complete, it will be one of the largest solar installations on Earth.

Jeff Fortune has been farming for 45 years. He says the choice was simple: grow crops without water, or grow electricity instead. "This will allow you to get paid for growing electricity," Fortune told reporters. "That will filter down so the grower has a better chance of staying in existence."

The numbers tell an incredible story. At peak sunlight, this installation will produce 20 gigawatts of power. That's equal to a dozen large coal plants, enough to meet one-sixth of California's projected energy needs by 2035.

Ross Franson grows almonds, pistachios, and tomatoes on his farm. He remembers the moment he heard about the project. "At least from my perspective, it was like, yes, we need to do this."

The Ripple Effect

Here's where it gets even better. Farmers who don't put solar on their land will still benefit. When the water district earns more revenue, it can charge farmers less for water. Local electricity bills could drop too.

The project will pump money into Fresno County's tax base, helping offset tax increases on farmland. Most importantly, it keeps farming families in business during tough economic times.

The construction phase alone will create 3,000 jobs over the next decade. Once operational, 500 permanent positions will support the installation. That's new economic opportunity flooding into a region that desperately needs it.

General manager Allison Febbo calls it a survival plan. With 200,000 acres typically left fallow each year, the solar farm could grow even larger over time. And if new water sources become available in the future, the land can return to growing crops.

The location matters too. Central Valley sits perfectly positioned to send clean power to every corner of California, arriving just as the state's AI boom demands more electricity.

Fortune sees the bigger picture. "Electric power's in short supply. Our project is shovel-ready, and we could be online quicker than you think."

When water runs out, farmers don't give up. They innovate, adapt, and turn barren land into hope for millions.