Earlier this year, Tulare County celebrated the continued progress of the Rexford Solar Project, one of California’s largest multi-phase solar-plus-storage developments. The most recent milestone involved the completion of the first phase of the original Rexford Project, first approved in 2019, and operation since early 2025. This phase, currently owned by AES Energy, includes 300 megawatts of solar capacity and 240 megawatts of battery storage and is located in southern Tulare County, near the community of Ducor, CA.
The County of Tulare’s Resource Management Agency (RMA) played a critical role in advancing the project. RMA staff worked closely with AES to guide the project through the permitting process, ensuring compliance with local and state requirements while maintaining an efficient timeline. A structured sales tax agreement was also developed to ensure that Tulare County communities benefit economically from the project’s construction and operations.
Environmental Planning Division staff conducted peer reviews of the Environmental Impact Report to ensure compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Building Division reviewed construction plans for compliance with building code requirements and performed inspections throughout construction.
RMA Chief Planner Sandy Roper led technical reviews for the original project and helped bring it to a public hearing in a timely manner. In April of this year, Roper and the RMA team visited the completed site. Solar projects are sometimes initiated by one entity and transferred to another for construction, and RMA staff provide guidance every step along the way. “Projects like Rexford provide us the opportunity to support utility-scale clean energy with a great deal of community benefit,” said Roper.
Since 2010, the County has supported more than 30 commercial-grade solar projects, making it one of the most solar-ready regions in California. Tulare County’s combination of available land, infrastructure capacity, and interagency coordination continues to attract clean energy developers looking for a streamlined and cooperative path forward.
The completion of the first phase of the Rexford Solar Project reinforces Tulare County’s commitment to sustainable economic development while creating jobs and strengthening California’s renewable energy future and the clean economy.
Landowners and developers interested in investing in California’s clean energy economy are encouraged to contact the Tulare County Economic Development Office for permitting support and project guidance at [email protected]. The team may also be reached by phone by calling (559) 624-7177.