Overview
- The Pastoria Solar Project is now operating in Kern County and is the largest renewable procurement ever contracted by the Department of Water Resources.
- The solar output is dedicated to the Edmonston Pumping Plant, which lifts water nearly 2,000 feet and can draw up to about 840 megawatts at peak.
- The site functions as an energy campus with a 750 megawatt gas plant and an 80 megawatt, 320 megawatt‑hour battery that is slated to start service in spring or summer 2026.
- DWR signed a 20‑year deal for the solar output at a reported rate of $1 per megawatt‑hour, and PG&E holds a 15‑year contract for the battery system.
- Water agencies warn the decarbonization push could raise costs, with State Water Contractors estimating $1.5 billion through 2045, while labor groups note the project used union workers.