The reduction of water supplies in drought-stricken California is forcing farmers to seek alternative sources of income.
In the San Joaquin Valley alone, farmers may need to take more than half a million acres (202,300 hectares) out of agricultural production to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014, which ultimately imposes restrictions on groundwater pumping.
Solar energy projects could bring new jobs and tax revenues to the state that may be lost due to declining agricultural income.
Supporters of clean energy argue that there are plenty of agricultural lands in California that could be converted into solar farms without harming the state's $50 billion agricultural industry.
According to the report, researchers identified 470,000 acres (190,200 hectares) of 'least conflict' land in the San Joaquin Valley, where saline soil, poor drainage, or other conditions that hinder agricultural operations make solar energy an attractive alternative for landowners.
According to Erica Brand, director of the Nature Conservancy's California program and co-author of the recently released report 'The Power of Place,' at least 13,000 acres (5,261 hectares) of solar farms have already been built in the valley.
The report examines 61 scenarios for achieving climate goals in California. One finding is that the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy is becoming increasingly costly.
Source: 3dnews.ru
