The reduction of water resources in California, suffering from ongoing droughts, is forcing farmers to seek alternative sources of income.
In the San Joaquin Valley alone, farmers may need to fallow more than half a million acres (202,300 ha) to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014, which ultimately imposes restrictions on pumping water from wells.
Solar energy projects could bring the state new jobs and tax revenue that may be lost due to decreasing agricultural income.
Proponents of clean energy argue that California has plenty of farmable land that could be repurposed into solar farms without harming the state's $50 billion agricultural sector.
According to the report, researchers identified 470,000 acres (190,200 ha) of 'least conflict' land in the San Joaquin Valley, where saline soils, poor drainage, or other conditions hindering agricultural operations make solar energy an attractive alternative for landowners.
Erica Brand, director of The Nature Conservancy in California and co-author of the recently released report 'The Power of Place', stated that at least 13,000 acres (5,261 ha) of solar farms have already been built in the valley.
The report explores 61 scenarios for achieving climate goals in California. One of its conclusions is that the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy is becoming more costly.
Burimi: 3dnews.ru
