| Panoche Valley Solar Farm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Panoche Valley, San Benito County |
| Coordinates | 36°37′N 120°52′W / 36.62°N 120.87°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | April 2016 |
| Commission date | January 2018[1] |
| Construction cost | approximately $1 billion |
| Owner(s) | Panoche Valley Solar, LLC. |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Site area | 1,300 acres (530 ha) |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 130 MW[2] |
Panoche Valley Solar Farm is a 130 megawatt (MW),[2] utility-scale solar photovoltaic power station in the Panoche Valley of Central California's San Benito County.[3] Panoche Valley is crossed by a 230-kilovolt (kV) power line from the Moss Landing Power Plant.[3]
Originally proposed by Solargen Energy (later known as Nevo Energy),[4][5] the project was purchased by PV2 Energy in April 2011, with Nevo Energy retaining a small equity interest, but no voting, governance or management input. In April 2012, PV2 Energy entered into a joint venture with Duke Energy, the largest utility in the United States. The project was eventually acquired by Con Edison in 2016.[6]
The project site consists of 4,717 acres (1,909 ha) of private land in the northern portion of the valley. It is used for pasture-based livestock grazing on native grassland habitat.[7] In October 2010, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors approved the company’s environmental impact report.[8][9] Originally proposed at 399 MW, the cost was estimated at approximately $1 billion.[10] The project faced lawsuits from three environmental groups who charged that project would harm native species such as the giant kangaroo rat, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, San Joaquin kit fox, and various bird species.[6] The project was downsized to 247 MW and eventually 130 MW in 2017 after a settlement was reached.[6][11] The plant started producing power in January 2018.[1] RWE acquired Con Edison's clean energy business in 2023.[12]
