Board approves Terra Gen'backed Discovery solar and storage project in southeast Kern

The Kern County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the Discovery Solar PV and Storage project, presented by Terra Gen, after a multi-hour staff presentation and applicant briefing.

Director Craig Murphy of the Planning Department told the board the project would develop approximately 1,400 megawatts of solar photovoltaic generation and about eight gigawatt-hours of battery storage across roughly 7,700 acres and 473 parcels in southeast Kern County near Mojave, Tehachapi and Rosamond. "A mitigation, monitoring and reporting program has been prepared for the proposed project," Murphy said, adding staff proposed 64 mitigation measures and that an environmental impact report had been prepared under CEQA.

Murphy highlighted two points that shaped the debate: an adopted high-speed rail alignment that bisects portions of the site (about 150 acres potentially affected) and extensive Joshua tree resources on the property. Staff said the EIR and subsequent consultations with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife included mapping of Joshua tree woodlands, preservation of roughly 420 acres through conservation easements "in perpetuity," and a plan to relocate roughly 10,000 Joshua trees to preserved on-site areas.

Sam Sowers, vice president of development for Terra Gen, described the project economics and workforce: an average construction workforce of about 470 workers (up to 660 at peak), an anticipated 6'12 permanent operations positions, interconnection at a 500 kV substation, and commitments to hire union labor under a signed labor agreement. Sowers asked the board to approve the project based on staff recommendations.

County staff provided contrasting fiscal scenarios tied to the statewide solar property tax exclusion. If the exclusion sunsets, staff estimated the project would generate roughly $758 million in property taxes over 35 years, including about $207 million in the first five years. If the exclusion remains, staff pointed to a mitigation measure (4.42) that would instead collect a cumulative-impact charge estimated at about $4.27 million annually ("$690 per acre annually" under the mitigation formula), which planners presented as an alternative revenue mechanism.

Public comment at the hearing was heavily tilted toward support. Labor unions, the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, the local economic development corporation and local trade and apprenticeship leaders cited jobs, apprenticeship pathways and local investment. One resident asked whether any acquisitions would be by eminent domain; staff replied acquisitions to date were negotiated purchases by the applicant.

Several supervisors raised broader fiscal concerns about a recurring dynamic: Kern County hosts large-scale renewable projects while certain state rules and tax exclusions limit the direct fiscal return to local governments. Supervisor Peters and others asked staff to return with a briefing on state legislation affecting county revenue and how the county should respond procedurally.

After debate, Supervisor Parlier moved to approve staff'recommended actions (including certification of the EIR, adoption of findings, adoption of a mitigation, monitoring and reporting program, and approval of requested land use entitlements). The clerk recorded the result as "Three Ayes, one absent, one no." The board took the action to approve the entitlements and related documents.

The board's approval authorizes the county to proceed with the land-use entitlements described in staff's recommendation; implementation steps (permits, final maps, and monitoring under the mitigation program) will follow according to the conditions approved by the board.