Utility-scale community solar development offers landowners an opportunity to keep fallowed land economically productive while also helping the state reach its renewable energy goals and reduce groundwater use by 2040. Leasing land for solar generates steady passive income for the term of the lease.

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Golden State Renewable Energy (GSR Energy) aims to optimize marginalized fallow land to produce energy that benefits rural communities, creating jobs for the community, generating reliable income streams for landowners and providing utility bill discounts to low-income electricity customers.

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What are the benefits of solar on your land?

• A secure and steady source of passive income, no cost to landowner, no increase in property taxes

• Protected and environmentally sustainable land use for marginalized/fallow land

• Little to no soil disturbance allowing for simultaneous vegetation, crop and livestock use

• Permitting process and legal property diligence handled by the developer

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What is a community solar land lease?

A solar land lease is a long-term agreement, ranging from 25 - 30 years, between a developer (sponsor) and a landowner (host), where the developer makes “rental” payments to the landowner. The developer uses the “rented” land for the development and operation of a community solar project for the duration of the agreed lease term.

 

       

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        Generation (Host)                                   Transmission (Utility)                                 Distribution (Kern County)

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• The host (Landowner) is the owner of the site where the community solar project will be located.

• The sponsor (Golden State Renewable Energy) manages the project and relationship with the utility.

• The subscribers (Kern County) are the individual entities, such as residents, businesses, nonprofits, or local governments, who benefit from the electricity generated by the community solar project.

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What size is the footprint of a Solar PV array?

• A typical solar project requires ~7 acres per MW of installed solar capacity. GSR Energy is targeting projects in the 3-5 MW capacity range which translates to 20-35 acres per project.

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Operation and maintenance (O&M) | Will this system require maintenance?

• The system will require little maintenance post construction. The site within the lease boundaries will be maintained by a professional crew provided by the sponsor for the lifetime of the project.  The system is monitored with software to ensure peak performance. Maintenance will be scheduled in accordance with landowners' availability.  

 

How does GSR Energy assure land stewardship and safety?  

• Minimal disturbance to your land is of the upmost importance throughout the development process

• We work with a team of professional engineers and installers to design, implement and operate a system that fits your property uniquely.

• Solar Panel technology is an extremely safe technology and non-harmful to the environment, livestock, crops, or human activities.

 

What does the process of working with GSR Energy look like?

• Once the parties agree to work together, GSR Energy will provide our standard lease agreement for your review.

• In parallel to lease agreement review, GSR Energy begins the interconnection application process to confirm suitability for the project.

  • GSR Energy will provide a simple one-page agreement that formalizes our ability to submit for an interconnection application. 

  • GSR Energy will file applications for interconnection studies to confirm suitability of the project.

• GSR Energy and landowner will enter into a lease option and lease agreement.

• GSR Energy progresses site engineering and permitting with local authority having jurisdiction.

 

 

If you have any further questions regarding the above, or general inquires please contact Oscar at oscar@gsr-energy.com

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