Southland’s Renewable Energy Boom Hits Town Near Salton Sea

A 130-acre dirt lot in Niland will soon be covered by more than 100,000 solar panels.

It’s a 20-megawatt solar project from the Imperial Irrigation District that will deliver enough power during the day to distinguish Niland as one of the nation’s first solar-powered communities.

The small town just southeast of the Salton Sea, with only about 1,300 residents, won’t be able to use all the power delivered by the new plant.

“Twenty megawatts is a lot of power,” said IID spokesperson Rosa Maria Gonzales. “We’re going to be infusing that into our system to serve other customers throughout the region as well.”

IID will lease the land to Palm Desert-based SunPeak Solar — which is the project developer.

“After the first six years, we have the option but not the obligation to purchase the solar facility. And because it’s built on our land, we’re getting the energy at a reduced rate,” said Gonzales.

Gonzales says the project will save the utility’s 146,000 customers $8 million in the first year.

“As long as it keeps the bills where they’re at or brings them down. As long as they don’t go up. Could also produce jobs and we need them here,” said Niland resident Hector Carranza.

SunPeak Solar is expected to hire around 200 workers over the course of construction.

No word yet on the cost of the project — which is scheduled to break ground in January and may be completed by the end of next summer.