General FAQs

  • Buttonbush Solar Center is a renewable energy project under development near Buttonwillow. Buttonbush is a “solar-plus-storage” project, meaning that it will pair solar photovoltaic (PV) panels (no mirrors) with a battery system capable of producing and storing up to 2,000 Megawatts (MWac) of clean energy. If fully built out, Buttonbush would provide enough clean, affordable electricity to power over 950,000 homes and offset carbon emissions equivalent to planting over 260,000 trees or taking 20.5 million cars off the road.

    The panels installed are essentially the same as those regularly installed on rooftops and parking lots. Adding battery storage allows the project to collect excess solar generation throughout the day for use later, during the night, or on cloudy days.

    The project will also include a small project substation and collection system, along with other associated infrastructure. A transmission line collecting power from Buttonbush, following the same general path as existing transmission lines, will interconnect at the nearby Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Midway Substation.

  • Buttonbush is being developed by Avantus, a California-based solar and energy storage company with more than a decade of success across the state. This is one of over a dozen projects in California we have developed to date, and our operating projects have already created thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities across the state and will provide $100+ million in county tax revenue throughout their lifetimes.

  • The project area under consideration comprises up to 13,000 acres for the development of the proposed facility. The project is generally located north of Buttonwillow, on both sides of Interstate 5. Additionally, Avantus anticipates interconnection at the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Midway Substation. You can view a site map here.

  • Avantus maintains site control of the private and public land associated with the proposed project through option-to-lease agreements. Should the project be approved and constructed, we plan to exercise those options with the landowners and enter into long-term leases. You can view a site map here.

  • The location of Buttonbush Solar Center is ideal for solar power plant development for a number of reasons, including access to a nearby substation and transmission lines, availability of sufficient land, a strong local workforce, and, of course, abundant sunshine.

  • The Buttonbush project application has been filed and is currently with the Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department.

  • Construction would advance in phases and could begin as early as 2025. Actual start and end dates of construction may vary depending on market factors, including who the ultimate power buyer is.

  • The Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Midway Substation will connect Buttonbush to California’s electrical grid. The ultimate power buyer for Buttonbush Solar and Store Center will be announced at a later date.

  • Buttonbush Solar Center will advance grid stability and energy independence for Kern County and California. Adding more electricity generation to the area is expected to benefit nearby residents by providing locally generated power to the electrical grid, thereby potentially reducing outage risks from elsewhere. Grid stability is further improved by the Battery Energy Storage System that will be associated with Buttonbush, allowing the locally generated solar energy to be dispatched to the grid at optimal times.

  • We value your feedback and engagement throughout the planning process. Please see our Contact page to find the representative best suited to address your area of interest.

Siting & Environmental Considerations

Please see our Minimizing Impact page for additional information and resources.

  • Please see the site map for a sense of Buttonbush’s location, located north of Buttonwillow on both sides of Interstate 5.

  • Avantus makes every effort to utilize existing transmission lines when possible. This project will require a transmission line from the project site to the nearby Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Midway Substation, following the same general path as existing power lines. The project will also require collector lines connecting project areas.

  • Avantus has a positive track record with local, state, and federal wildlife agencies as well as with environmental organizations. We design each project to avoid or minimize potential impacts to threatened or endangered species and ensure proper mitigation measures are provided as appropriate.

  • No. Buttonbush Solar Center will use minimal water once constructed, and significantly less water than agricultural operations, which the majority of the site is currently zoned for. The biggest use of water occurs during construction to suppress dust. After construction, water will be primarily used to remove dirt and dust from the solar panels, if necessary.

    Given the long-term trend of declining water availability, transitioning some agricultural land to solar could help the region reduce water usage and allow local farmers to allocate water to more productive lands. Solar energy projects on former agricultural land, like Buttonbush, can better allocate declining water resources, provide farmers with more economic opportunities, and help California advance toward greater energy independence.

  • During construction, we expect our crew will generate some noise and add cars/trucks to certain roads, and we will aim to minimize those potential impacts.

    As always, we will be respectful of our neighbors and aim to keep construction noise to a minimum. All site activity will comply with Kern County noise ordinances.

  • Dust suppression will be used throughout the construction period to control dust and minimize potential impacts on construction workers and the surrounding community, as mandated by County and State regulations.

    Because we are in the business of capturing sunlight, we are incentivized to make sure our panels are free from excessive dust.

Project Safety

  • Yes. Buttonbush Solar Center will feature 24/7 security and monitoring to ensure the safety of the project and equipment. The project may include additional security measures, including warning reflective signage, controlled access points, security camera systems, and/or security guard vehicle patrols to deter trespassing and unauthorized activities.

  • Are solar panels toxic?

    No. Today’s solar panels are designed to operate safely for decades. Panels are manufactured using materials and hardware similar to smartphones, computers, and televisions. Researchers from national laboratories and universities have studied various solar technologies and found no levels of toxicity that present risks to nearby ecosystems.

  • Avantus has a positive fire safety record. We take proactive steps to avoid, reduce, and mitigate potential fire risks in collaboration with national standards committees, state-of-the-art laboratories, and guidelines laid out by the National Fire Protection Association.

    At the local level, we will coordinate with the Kern County Fire Department and will continue to work closely with County officials throughout the design, construction, and testing phases to ensure Buttonbush adheres to safety standards. First responders will be trained on emergency procedures at a solar power plant with energy storage.

    Projects are monitored for any warning signs of potential issues. In the unlikely event of a fire, crews are trained for response according to a comprehensive and project-specific emergency operation plan.

  • Safety is our priority. Like all of our projects, Buttonbush will be built in accordance with safety precautions, and emergency systems will be implemented to safeguard our construction and operations crews.

    Potentially hazardous materials at our project sites are limited to the oils, fuels, and solvents required to operate machinery, such as transformers, and clean equipment. Any hazardous materials and wastes would be managed, used, handled, stored, and transported in accordance with applicable local and state regulations.

    Each Buttonbush project site will be surrounded by secure fencing and may be equipped with controlled access points, intrusion alarms, security cameras, and additional measures designed to prevent trespassing, vandalism, or unauthorized activities.

  • As with any construction activity or natural phenomena that causes ground disturbance, construction workers are at a somewhat increased risk of potential exposure to airborne spores that can cause flu-like symptoms known as “Valley Fever.” Following construction, we anticipate less soil disturbance than current farming and agriculture operations. We are committed to ensuring that all personnel receive the proper training, educational materials, and protective equipment to avoid or mitigate exposure, and we take multiple precautionary steps to reduce airborne dust from our project sites.

    Avantus meets or exceeds all safety requirements to reduce the risk of Valley Fever to workers and the community. Over the past few years, many counties in California have mandated strict dust mitigation plans and training specific to Valley Fever. None of Avantus’ operating projects in California have been connected to an outbreak.

  • Solar panels are designed to absorb light for energy and Buttonbush will utilize anti-reflective coating on all our solar panels to reduce light reflection. As a result, modern solar panels reflect as little as 2% of incoming sunlight.

  • Yes. Glass, aluminum, and high-purity silicon, which make up the majority of solar panel materials, can be recovered during the recycling process.

Economics & Employment

Please see our Local Benefits page for additional information and resources.

  • No. In fact, Buttonbush Solar Center is expected to bring economic benefits to the community. Throughout the construction process, Buttonbush is expected to create a boost to local businesses such as restaurants and markets. Over the project’s lifetime, Buttonbush is expected to generate millions in local tax revenue that could support an array of essential services like schools, public safety, and street services.

    In the past, we have partnered with local communities to help with training opportunities and educational programs. We’ve also contributed funds and expertise toward prizes to encourage students, facilities benefiting local residents, food and toy drives, and more. With the Buttonbush project, we are working to replicate that level of partnership by working with local organizations, schools, and unions.

    Please see our Local Benefits page for additional information.

  • No. Local electricity rates are not expected to be directly impacted by this project.

  • Avantus anticipates creating up to 800 well-paying jobs throughout the construction process, with local workers prioritized whenever possible. The majority of workers on our previous projects in Kern County have been local workers. We plan to sign labor agreements with multiple unions and expect to see strong union support for this project.

  • We expect to hire up to 20 full-time permanent employees in operations, security, and maintenance roles.

  • Please visit this website periodically for updates about future job fairs or connect with your local unions to learn more about requirements and training.

  • Please visit this website periodically for updates about future job fairs or connect with your local unions to learn more about requirements and training.

  • Independent studies conducted by professional real estate appraisers have found that across the United States, solar farms have minimal impact or even slightly positive impact on the property values of nearby residences.

Operations

  • Avantus designs and engineers every project to mitigate technical challenges during the systems’ lifetime. Solar panels, battery storage, support structures, and electrical components are subject to testing and certification to ensure durability and safe performance in extreme heat, high winds, heavy rain, and even hailstorms. Furthermore, the minimal number of moving parts throughout the solar plant inherently leads to high reliability.

    Buttonbush’s plant performance will be monitored and controlled in real-time. In the event of damage or performance issues, Avantus and project partners would work together to get the project back online. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it’s also crucial to our business – projects are contracted to deliver a specified amount of energy, so it’s imperative that we keep them in operating condition.

Additional Questions?