The Hollister City Council this week officially endorsed the
Solargen Energy proposal for a 420-megawatt solar farm in the
Panoche Valley.
The Hollister City Council this week officially endorsed the Solargen Energy proposal for a 420-megawatt solar farm in the Panoche Valley. Council members unanimously supported the proposal, which is going before San Benito County supervisors, to build the solar farm on 4,800 acres in southern San Benito County.
Council members showed unanimous support for the estimated $1.2 billion project. Such a vote is symbolic, as the city council has no jurisdiction over the proposal or decisions related to it. San Benito County supervisors are expected to decide on the proposal in the coming months.
Council members cited the potential economic impacts from the project. Solargen has estimated that during construction, at least 150 jobs will be created and during long-term operation the facility would need about 50 full-time workers. County supervisors in the coming months are set to examine the environmental impact report while also considering cancellation to 12 Williamson Act contracts – a necessity for the proposal to move ahead.
