The Imperial Irrigation District’s Board of Directors recently approved a resolution opposing the continued expansion of utility-scale solar projects on active or historically farmed agricultural land within the District’s service area.
The action comes as more than 13,000 acres of Imperial Valley farmland “have already been converted for solar energy development -- projects that largely export electricity to urban centers like San Diego, providing little to no benefit for local communities,” the California public power utility said.
“Our identity and economy in the Imperial Valley are rooted in agriculture,” said IID Board Chairwoman Gina Dockstader. “Solar energy has a role in our region’s future, but it cannot come at the cost of our farmland, food supply, or the families who depend on agriculture. This resolution is about protecting our way of life.”
The resolution highlights growing concerns over the economic and environmental impacts of solar development on farmland, including the displacement of agricultural jobs, diminished return flows critical to Salton Sea sustainability, and the loss of the region’s rural and agrarian landscape.
“It’s time to draw a line,” said IID Vice Chairman JB Hamby. “Farmland in the Imperial Valley feeds this country and anchors our economy. Covering it with solar panels that send electricity elsewhere and leave us with the consequences is unacceptable. We support renewable energy — just not at the expense of our future.”
The IID Board emphasized that it remains supportive of renewable energy projects -- when responsibly sited on non-agricultural lands such as desert areas, industrial zones, and ground that has not been farmed in many years. The resolution reaffirms the District’s commitment to preserving the farm economy and protecting vital natural resources.
The District will formally communicate its position to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, which serves as the region’s land use authority in unincorporated areas, and will encourage local, state, and federal agencies to prioritize agricultural preservation in future development decisions.
