A large-scale solar and battery storage facility in Fresno County has been certified by Governor Gavin Newsom through judicial streamlining, a process under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Once built, the Cornucopia Hybrid Project will deliver 300 megawatts (MW) of solar power and 300 MW of battery storage, providing clean energy for up to 300,000 homes while supporting local jobs and tax revenue.
“In California, we’re in the ‘how’ business – we’re moving fast to achieve our world-leading clean energy goals.” said Gov. Newsom. “By fast-tracking critical projects like this one in Fresno, we’re creating good-paying jobs, cutting pollution, and building a cleaner, more reliable energy grid to serve Californians for generations.”
The CEQA Judicial Streamlining Program is managed by the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) and works to keep essential infrastructure projects on track by reducing unnecessary legal delays without bypassing environmental reviews or public input.
“At LCI, we know that when we remove barriers to progress without compromising environmental integrity, we create stronger, healthier communities and a more sustainable future for all Californians,” said LCI Director Sam Assefa. “Judicial streamlining under CEQA is about ensuring that communities don’t have to wait years to see the benefits of clean energy. Eliminating unnecessary delays allows projects like the Cornucopia Hybrid Project to progress more quickly without compromising thorough review. That means clean energy reaches communities faster, bringing jobs, cleaner air, and a more reliable power grid to the people who need it the most.”
What is the Cornucopia Hybrid Project?
The Cornucopia Hybrid Project will be built on 2,000 acres in southwestern Fresno County, near the Kings County border. The site was carefully selected to be on non-prime agricultural land, ensuring it does not disrupt valuable farmland. The project will use a dual-use model, with sheep grazing alongside solar panels to help manage vegetation, reduce fire risks, and improve soil health.
“We appreciate Governor Newsom’s action to advance the Cornucopia Hybrid Project,” said Brandon Reinhardt, Senior Director of Land Entitlements at BayWa r.e. Americas, the project lead. “This milestone is a win for both the state and Fresno County, helping accelerate infrastructure that powers homes and businesses while creating good-paying jobs, driving economic growth, and strengthening energy resilience. By leveraging this new streamlining process, we’re ensuring communities benefit from reliable, homegrown energy without unnecessary delays. We’re proud to contribute to a stronger energy future for California.”
The Cornucopia Hybrid Project will not only create jobs and generate tax revenue that will support local services, but it will also help stabilize the energy grid, ensuring that electricity is available during peak demand periods, including evenings and nights when solar generation is limited.
How Judicial Streamlining Keeps Projects Moving
The judicial streamlining process sets clear timelines for resolving CEQA-related legal challenges. Through SB 7 (2021) and SB 149 (2023), projects that meet certain criteria can be certified for judicial streamlining, meaning:
- Legal challenges must be resolved within 270 days whenever feasible, preventing long court delays.
- Projects still go through full CEQA environmental review, ensuring sustainability and community engagement.
- Critical clean energy, water and infrastructure projects can be accelerated to meet local and state climate resilient goals.
LCI manages this process, ensuring that projects meet all legal and environmental requirements while benefiting communities with a more predictable and efficient timeline.