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A Fresno County clean energy project has reached a major milestone.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has released its staff assessment for the Darden Clean Energy Project, a 2,300 megawatt (MW) solar and battery storage project proposed to be built on retired farmland in western Fresno County.

This is the first project to reach this stage under CEC’s Opt-In Certification Program. It is a major step forward to accelerate deployment of clean energy projects as the state transitions to 100% percent clean electricity by 2045, according to a CEC news release.

The Opt-in process, launched in 2022, is an alternative permitting option for certain clean energy projects. One requirement is the project developer providing community and economic benefits.

Developer IP Darden I, LLC, will make $2 million in community investments over the next decade, starting with a $320,000 commitment to Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, a nonprofit supporting crime victims, family wellness and civic engagement in rural communities.

The Darden Clean Energy Project will create more than 2,000 prevailing-wage construction jobs to support the local workforce during the construction period of 1.5 to 4 years, according to the release.

The project will generate an estimated $169 million in economic benefits to the local area over the project’s lifetime — estimated at 35 years.

With certain exceptions, the environmental review must be completed within 270 days after the application is deemed complete.

There are a total of eight clean energy projects pursuing the Opt-In Certification. Two applications are complete, with the remaining six still are still in the process of filing.

The assessment for the Darden Clean Energy Project was posted on Feb. 18. It includes a draft environmental impact report, kicking off a 60-day public comment period for community members and local, state, tribal and federal agencies to provide feedback.

A public meeting is planned for either March or April near the project site, with CEC staff presenting the assessment and collecting additional input.

The project will sit on 9,500 acres of retired agricultural land in western Fresno County, designed to boost California’s renewable energy capacity and grid reliability.

The Darden Clean Energy Project will include 1,150 megawatts of solar power and up to 1,150 megawatts of battery energy storage, which can provide energy for a four-hour duration.