The Fresno County, Calif.-based Kings River Conservation District (KRCD), the water management arm of the San Joaquin Valley Power Authority, is planning to build the world’s largest solar farm. Expected to cover 640 acres once it is finished in 2011, the solar farm would provide enough power for 20,800 homes.

San Francisco-based Cleantech America has been contracted to build the farm. The 80-megawatt farm could avoid the creation of 100 million pounds of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Along with providing emissions-free energy, the project is expected to create more than 2,600 new jobs in the area. “Developing 80 megawatts of clean energy from the sun would take us a long way to achieving [the KRCD’s goal of developing local renewable energy sources],” said KRCD General Manager David Orth. More information on the project is available at http://www.communitychoice.info/news/26.html