Kern County, CA

Aratina Solar Center

The Aratina Solar Center is a solar project under development in eastern Kern County, California, near the communities of Boron and Desert Lake. The project will feature a photovoltaic solar array (no mirrors) and battery system with a generation capacity of up to 530 MWac. Aratina will produce enough clean, affordable electricity to power over 180,000 homes, day or night.


Recent Updates

We have some exciting news to share! 8minute has rebranded to Avantus. While we have a new name and logo, we bring the same team with the same track record. And, one thing will always remain true is our commitment to being a good community partner. 

Since the planning phase of the Aratina Solar Center, we have been committed to creating positive and meaningful change in the local community through support of nonprofits and community groups and stands behind that promise today.

Some of our recent support of the local community has included:

  • Backpack giveaways for Boron elementary and middle school students in need with the Boron Library.

  • Libraries STEM craft programs for kids across East Kern County, made possible through on-going support.

  • Edwards Library Summer Reading Program and 2022 Easter Egg-stravaganza with the Edwards AFB Force Support Squadron.

  • Sporting equipment and sport league registration fees for families in need through the non-profit Reggie’s Kicks for Kids

  • Breakfast With the Easter Bunny and Easter Carnival with Boron High School

We are always looking for new community partners in Boron, Desert Lake, Edwards, and the surrounding area. If you work with, or know of, organizations that support area youth or veterans, community betterment, climate resilience and/or diversity and equity programs, we want to hear from you.

To find more information, click here.


Before and after views of the project location. View more >>

Before and after views of the project location. View more >>

 

Based on thoughtful community feedback, the Aratina project footprint has been reduced to provide additional buffers from Boron and Desert Lake, thereby minimizing the visibility of the project from those communities. Specifically, the revised site design increases project setbacks from residential areas by up to a half-mile, the equivalent of nine football fields, creating significant space between local residents and the solar project. Kern County is referring to the revised site design as Aratina 2.0.

Please see the revised site map and visual simulations for a better sense of Aratina’s location and visual impact.


Project Snapshot

LOCATION
Eastern Kern County, CA
View the site map here

SOLAR PV CAPACITY
Up to 530 MWac

PROJECT SIZE
Up to 2,300 acres of private land

DEVELOPER
Avantus (formerly 8minute)

POTENTIAL JOB IMPACT
570 well-paying construction jobs

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Over $135,000 allocated toward programs and services in Boron and Desert Lake

STATUS
The Kern County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Aratina Solar Center in October 2021. Site construction activity is anticipated to begin by early 2024.


 

Local Benefits

Aratina will be ninth project developed by Avantus in Kern County. With every system we build, we strive to bring positive, meaningful change to Kern County and the local communities where they operate.

 

Community Involvement

Avantus is committed to being a good neighbor, which means taking the time to understand local communities’ values.

Economic Opportunities

During the construction phase, Aratina is estimated to create approximately 570 construction jobs.

Environmental

Aratina is estimated to offset about 860,000 metric tons of carbon emissions every year, the annual equivalent to planting 14 million trees.

 

 

About Avantus

Avantus is California-based developer of solar and energy storage projects, ushering in a new generation of large-scale, clean power plants across the United States. We have more than a decade of experience developing and building low-cost, high performing and sustainable projects in partnership with utilities, landowners, communities, and other key stakeholders.

And while we have a new name, we have developed more than 1,700 megawatts (MWdc) of projects operating throughout California, with Aratina potentially marking our ninth solar plant in Kern County alone. Our Kern County projects include the 450-MWdc Springbok Solar Cluster near California City and the 100-MWdc Redwood Solar Cluster just outside of Bakersfield. These projects created thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities across Kern County during construction and will generate tens of millions of dollars in local tax revenue over their lifetime. We are proud of the relationships we’ve built and the track record we’ve earned, and hope to expand upon this success with the Aratina Solar Center.