GENERAL
What is the Aratina Solar Center?
Aratina is a renewable energy project under development in the Boron and Desert Lake area of eastern Kern County. Aratina is a “solar-plus-storage” project, meaning it will pair solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with a battery system. These PV panels are essentially the same as those you’ve seen on rooftops or in parking lots. Adding storage allows the project to capture excess solar generation throughout the day and store it for use at a later time, typically at night or on cloudy days.
The project consists of a solar array with a solar generation capacity of up to 530 MWac and an up to 600 MWac battery energy storage system. Once fully deployed, Aratina will produce enough clean electricity to power 180,000 homes.
Who is developing this project?
Aratina is being developed by Avantus (formerly 8minute), a California-based company with more than a decade of success across the state. Aratina marks the company’s ninth project in Kern County alone; to date, our operating projects have already created thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities across the county and will provide tens of millions of dollars in local tax revenue throughout their lifetime.
As with our past projects, Avantus will partner with leading construction firms, local unions, financiers, and operators to build a world-class project and ensure it is properly maintained. As a long-standing partner to Kern County, we are in this for the long-haul, and that includes supporting the local communities where our projects operate for years to come.
Who owns the land?
Avantus has purchase options in place to build the project on up to 2,300 acres of privately-owned land. What that means is that as the project progresses, we will buy the land from the current landowners. Given feedback received from County and local stakeholders, we have reduced the original footprint of the project to create more open space near Boron and Desert Lake, and to preserve existing views. You can view a site map here.
Why Eastern Kern County?
This area is ideal for solar power plant development for a number of reasons, including access to substations and transmission lines, availability of sufficient land for purchase, a strong local workforce, and, of course, abundant sunshine.
Has the project been approved?
Following years of discussion, consultation, and feedback from local officials, the Kern County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Aratina Solar Center in October 2021.
Prior to approval, Avantus worked with the Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department, California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and other agencies to ensure the project adhered to all local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). After approval, Avantus has remained in communication and consultation with Kern County, CDFW, and USFWS to ensure adherence to all protocols, regulations, mitigations, and other conditions of approval throughout project planning and construction.
Where will the generated power go? Who will use the electricity?
The electricity generated by the Aratina Solar Center will be transmitted to a small handful of utilities and community energy providers throughout California.
Who can I contact with questions / concerns?
We value your feedback and engagement throughout the planning process. Please see our Contact page to find the representative best suited to address your area of interest.
SITING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Please see our Minimizing Impact page for additional information and resources.
Will this project alter the visual landscape of the community?
Please see the site map and visual simulations for a good sense of Aratina’s location and limited visual impact. Based on feedback received from local residents and Kern County, Avantus revised the solar site to reduce the project footprint and significantly reduce the visibility of the project. The revised site design, referred to as Aratina 2.0 by Kern County, increases project setbacks from Boron and Desert Lake’s residential areas by up to a half-mile, the equivalent of nine football fields, opening up space between local communities and the solar project.
Will this project require new transmission lines?
Avantus makes every effort to utilize existing transmission lines when possible. While we are exploring all possible options, at this time we do anticipate needing additional transmission from the project site to SCE Holgate Substation or, alternatively, Kramer Substation.
Will Aratina impact local wildlife?
We have a positive track record with local, state, and federal wildlife agencies as well as with environmental organizations. Our projects have garnered support from respected groups including the Sierra Club, Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. At Aratina, all onsite workers will receive wildlife protection training, and trained biologists will be onsite during construction to oversee biological monitoring protocols outlined by the state. We design each project to avoid or minimize potential impacts to threatened or endangered species and ensure proper mitigation measures are provided as appropriate.
One novel mitigation approach is the Onyx Conservation Project, which Avantus created in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). In Eastern Kern County, the first-of-its-kind conservation effort permanently protects 215,000 acres of California habitat - home to 20 sensitive wildlife species, including the Mojave desert tortoise, California condor, Golden eagle, and Mohave ground squirrel, as well as an estimated 80,000 acres of Western Joshua Tree habitat.
Will the project impact Joshua Trees in our area?
Avantus is working to preserve native Mojave plants like Joshua Trees while also preserving California’s ability to achieve its clean energy goals – and the economic and climate benefits that come with them.
Avantus, in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and environmental groups, is executing an approved plan to avoid or minimize wildlife impacts by contributing to a CDFW mitigation fund. Additionally, we also established the Onyx Conservation Project which permanently protects more than 80,000 acres of Western Joshua Tree habitat, including 3,000 acres of dense Joshua Tree woodland. While individual trees will be impacted during project construction, clean energy projects like Aratina directly address the existential threat of climate change caused by rising greenhouse gas emissions that threaten vastly more trees.
Will the project deplete our local water supplies?
No, Aratina will use minimal water. The biggest use of water occurs during construction to suppress any dust. After construction, water will be primarily used to remove dirt and dust from the solar panels, if necessary.
Will the project generate a lot of traffic or noise?
During construction, we expect our crew will generate some noise and add cars/trucks to certain roads, and we will aim to minimize those potential impacts.
As always, we will aim to be respectful of our neighbors and aim to keep construction noise to a minimum. All site activity is subject to and comply with Kern County noise ordinances.
Will the solar panels increase temperature in the community?
According to an environmental analysis of the Aratina Solar Center, there is nothing to indicate the project would increase air temperature in nearby residential areas. While the project could increase air temperature by a few degrees immediately above or adjacent to panels during the day, increased temperatures are shown to quickly dissipate with distance from solar panels. Solar arrays consist of PV panels mounted on aluminum and steel support structures, capturing the sunlight that would normally fall to the ground surface.
Will the project create additional dust?
Dust suppression will be used throughout the construction period to control dust and minimize the potential impacts on construction workers and the surrounding community, as mandated by County and State regulations.
During operations, the solar panels themselves typically act as a wind breaker, reducing wind speeds and thereby minimizing airborne dust. In addition, the site will be reseeded with a native seed mix, which adds to the existing root system that helps bind the soil together. Because we are in the business of capturing sunlight, we are incentivized to make sure our panels are free from excessive dust.
PROJECT SAFETY
Are solar panels toxic?
No. Today’s solar panels are designed to operate safely for decades. Panels are manufactured using hardware similar to smartphones, computers and televisions. Researchers from a number of national laboratories and universities have studied the soil and water near solar plants and found no levels of toxicity that present risks to nearby ecosystems.
Is this project a fire risk? What would happen in case of an emergency?
Avantus has a positive fire safety record. We take proactive steps to avoid, reduce, and mitigate potential fire risks in collaboration with national standards committees, Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories, and guidelines laid out by the National Fire Protection Association.
At the local level, we have initiated preliminary discussions with the Kern County Fire Department and will continue to work closely with the District throughout the design, construction, and testing phases to ensure Aratina adheres to safety standards. Avantus and its partners will prepare and maintain a comprehensive emergency response plan and will train all first responders on emergency procedures for a solar power plant and energy storage system.
Our projects are monitored for any warning signs of potential issues and hazards. In the unlikely event of a fire, our crews are trained for response according to our emergency response plan.
Is the project safe for workers and local residents?
Safety is our priority. Like all of our projects, Aratina will be built in accordance with safety precautions, and emergency systems will be implemented to safeguard our construction and operations crews.
Potentially hazardous materials at our project sites are limited to the minimal oils, fuels, and solvents required to operate machinery and clean equipment. Any hazardous materials and wastes would be managed, used, handled, stored, and transported in accordance with applicable local and state regulations.
Each Aratina project site will be surrounded by fencing and equipped with controlled access points, intrusion alarms, security cameras, and additional measures designed to prevent trespassing, vandalism, or unauthorized activities.
How will dust and Valley Fever risk be minimized during construction?
As with any construction activity or natural phenomena that includes ground disturbance, construction workers are at a somewhat increased potential for exposure to airborne spores that can cause flu-like symptoms known as “Valley Fever,” with incidents rising as the impacts of climate change worsen. While approximately 60 percent of cases are asymptomatic, we are very committed to ensuring that all personnel receive the proper training, educational materials, and protective equipment to avoid or mitigate exposure.
Avantus meets or exceeds all safety requirements to reduce the risk of Valley Fever to workers and the community, and we are implementing multiple precautionary steps to reduce airborne dust from our project site including limiting unpaved roadway speeds to 15 mph, constructing wind breaks like barriers and fences, stopping work on extreme windy days, and consistently watering construction areas and roadways. None of Avantus’ operating projects in California have been connected to an outbreak.
Will the solar panels reflect light?
Solar panels are designed to absorb light for energy. As a result, modern solar panels reflect as little as 2% of incoming sunlight. Furthermore, the Aratina Solar project will utilize anti-reflective coating on all our solar panels to reduce light reflection.
Can solar panels be recycled?
Yes. Glass, aluminum, and high purity silicon, which make up the majority of solar panel materials, can be recovered during the recycling process and repurposed for new solar panels.
ECONOMICS AND EMPLOYMENT
Please see our Local Benefits page for additional information and resources.
Will this project cost me anything?
No. In fact, Aratina is expected to bring economic benefits to the community. Throughout the construction process, Aratina is expected to create a boost to local businesses including restaurants, gas stations, and grocers. Over the project’s lifetime, Aratina is expected to generate over $30 million in local tax revenue that could go towards an array of essential services like schools, public safety and street services. For example, recently, Kern County tax revenue has funded upgrades to Boron’s local park and helped reopen the Boron Community Building.
In the past, we have partnered with local communities to help with training opportunities and educational programs. We’ve also contributed funds and expertise toward prizes to encourage students, facilities benefiting local residents, food and toy drives, solar street lights, and more. With the Aratina project, we have worked to replicate that level of partnership by working with local unions, organizations and schools.
Please see our Local Benefits page for additional information.
Will my electricity bill go up as a result of Aratina Solar Center?
No. Local electricity rates are not expected be directly impacted by this project.
How many construction jobs will it create? Will workers be hired locally?
Avantus anticipates creating approximately 570 well-paying jobs throughout the construction process that will cumulatively pay workers around $60 million in wages, with local workers prioritized whenever possible. We plan to sign labor agreements with multiple unions, as we have with all our other projects in Kern County, and we expect to see strong union support for this effort.
How many permanent jobs will it create?
We expect to hire up to 10 permanent employees in operations, security, and maintenance roles.
How can I inquire about a potential job?
Please visit this website periodically for updates about future job fairs, or connect with Kern’s IBEW Local 428 to learn more about requirements and training.
Click here for apprenticeship program information.
Do solar facilities decrease property values?
A wide body of existing research has demonstrated no significant impact on property values for residences located nearby solar facilities. Most assessors believe that large solar facilities would have minimal impact on property values, particularly when located over a half mile away from a solar site. For residences both nearby and adjacent to solar projects across California, there has been no observed significant impact on property values.
OPERATIONS
What would happen if the project stopped working?
Avantus designs and engineers every project to mitigate technical challenges during our systems’ lifetime. Solar panels, battery storage, support structures, and electrical components are subject to testing and certification to ensure durability and safe performance in extreme heat, high winds, heavy rain, and even hailstorms. Furthermore, the minimal number of moving parts throughout the solar plant inherently lead to high reliability.
Aratina’s plant performance will be monitored and controlled in real-time. In the unlikely event of damage or performance issues, Avantus and our project partners would work together to get the project back online. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it’s also crucial to our business – our projects are contracted to deliver a specified amount of energy, so it’s imperative that we keep them in operating condition.