The solar electric power generated by the California Valley Solar Ranch is a 100% renewable energy source that is clean and quiet, produces no harmful emissions, requires no fuel and needs only minimal water for periodic washing. It provides power for over 100,000 homes, approximately every home in San Luis Obispo County.
According to calculations provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Valley Solar Ranch will offset the production of more than 750 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year. This is the equivalent of:
- Removing 62,000 cars from local roads and freeways every years
- Taking 23 billion pounds of coal out of power plant production
- Planting 2,343,180 acres of trees
SunPower Trackers minimize impact on animals and vegetation, and allow sun, air and rain to reach the ground below. Tracker height can be adjusted to the topography, minimizing the need for grading. In addition, its high-efficiency panels allow SunPower to maximize the clean energy generated from CVSR with the smallest footprint possible.
About 70% of the site, or 3,200 acres, will be permanently conserved and managed to meet conservation objectives for a range of species.
But for the land preservation provided by the Solar Project, these lands are subject to development, tilling for agricultural use or other activities that severely disturb habitat – these lands are not otherwise protected and their habitat value cannot be expected to remain intact absent protection. Through its environmental mitigation program, SunPower will not only assure the protection, restoration and compatible management of these acres of habitat for a range of species on private land, but also provide a framework for a conservation and preservation program for the entirety of the Carrizo Plain.
