ECOnorthwest, with partner Rincon Consultants, conducted a socioeconomic impact analysis for the proposed Darden Clean Energy Project on approximately 9,500 acres in Fresno County, California under the California Energy Commission “opt-in” certification process. If permitted, the project would be the largest solar project in the nation and would also include a green hydrogen generator, battery energy storage system, and associated components. The analysis quantified the local economic impacts of project construction and operation in terms of economic output, jobs, and income; assessed economic impacts for existing land use; assessed renewable energy workforce development opportunities and constraints; and quantified socioeconomic impacts of project development on housing, public services, and local government revenue under multiple scenarios for CEC compliance.
As of June 2025, the California Energy Commission has officially approved the Darden Clean Energy Project through its AB 205 Opt-In process! At 1,150 MW, Darden is now the largest solar project approved in the country—and the first to successfully navigate the CEC’s rigorous AB 205 pathway. This marks a major milestone in California’s push toward a clean energy future.
