California Farmers Turn Fallow Land Into Solar Giant

California farmers are turning their biggest problem into the nation's largest clean energy solution.

In the heart of California's San Joaquin Valley, farmers are backing a massive solar farm that would cover 200 square miles and generate enough electricity to power entire cities. It's not because they've given up on farming. It's because they've run out of water.

"We're farmers, and we would rather farm the ground," says Ross Franson, president of Woolf Farming and Processing. "If we had the water to do it, we would farm it. But the reality is, you don't."

The water crisis has been building for years. The canal that once delivered irrigation water from Northern California now carries less because of droughts and competing demands. A new state law also bans overpumping from underground aquifers, cutting off the backup supply farmers relied on for decades.

Without water, thousands of acres have been sitting empty and unproductive. But farmers saw an opportunity where others might have seen only loss.

Enter Golden State Clean Energy, a solar developer with an ambitious vision. They proposed a collection of solar projects so large it would finally justify building the multibillion-dollar power lines needed to carry electricity from the valley to Los Angeles and Silicon Valley.

About 150 farmers have already signed up to host solar panels on their land. Jeremy Hughes, one of those farmers, calls it "a new crop" where they're harvesting electricity instead of vegetables.

The guaranteed income from solar means farmers can keep working the land where they still have water. "Because of solar, we can continue farming in Westlands," says Jose Gutierrez, assistant general manager of Westlands Water District. "It'll keep the farming community alive."

Environmental scientist Grace Wu from UC Santa Barbara says the location makes perfect sense. The fallowed farmland isn't valuable wildlife habitat, making it ideal for large-scale solar development.

Why This Inspires

This story shows how communities can turn crisis into opportunity without abandoning their roots. These farmers aren't giving up on agriculture. They're adapting to climate realities while powering a cleaner future for millions of Californians.

The project will take a decade to build, creating construction jobs today and reliable clean energy for tomorrow. And crucially, it's happening with farmers leading the way, not being pushed aside by development.

Construction could start soon, keeping hope alive in farming towns across the valley.