Local Benefits
Buttonbush Solar Center is the latest of over a dozen projects Avantus has developed in California. As with all of our projects, we strive to bring positive change to Kern County and local communities.
Below is a brief snapshot of the benefits this project will bring at the local level.
Community Involvement
Avantus is committed to being a good neighbor. This means taking the time to understand Buttonwillow’s values and needs and identifying opportunities to contribute in meaningful ways to the community. We believe that local communities should benefit from businesses operating in the area. As the project progresses, we are excited to support and partner with local organizations in Buttonwillow and Kern County.
Local organizations and events we continue to support include:
• Buttonwillow Recreation and Parks District
• Buttonwillow Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture
• Buttonwillow 3rd of July Fireworks Festival
• Kern County Libraries
• Community Action Partnership – Kern County
• United Way – Kern County
• Kern River Conservancy
• Kern Economic Development Corporation (KernEDC)
• And more to come!
We’d love to hear from you. We want to learn about local projects, events, and programs that will enhance your community and leave a lasting positive impact. As a renewable energy company, we are especially interested in educational endeavors that will inspire and support the next generation of scientists, engineers, and tradespeople to take the industry to new heights. Please share your thoughts with us here.
Economic Opportunities
Over the course of its lifetime, Buttonbush Solar Center is expected to generate millions in local tax revenue that could support an array of services like schools, public safety, and street services.
During the construction phase, Buttonbush is estimated to create up to 800 well-paying construction jobs over several years. Local restaurants, markets, and more will also likely see an uptick in business throughout the construction period.
We prioritize hiring locally whenever possible and plan to secure labor agreements with multiple unions, as we have with all of our other projects in California. Upon completion, we expect to employ up to 20 employees in full-time operations, security, and maintenance roles.
Interested in learning more about employment and training opportunities? For our past projects, job fairs and training programs were hosted in partnership with the project team, labor unions, and local stakeholders, and we expect the same for Buttonbush. As the project progresses, we’ll share relevant information on job fairs and employment opportunities here on the website.
Environment
If fully built out, Buttonbush Solar Center will produce and store up to 2,000 Megawatts (MWac) of clean solar energy helping to offset hundreds of thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions – enough clean energy to power over 950,000 homes and offset carbon emissions in just one year equivalent to removing over 20.5 million cars from the road or planting over 260,000 trees.
Our fundamental business strategy aims to secure energy independence and grid reliability while addressing air pollution and protecting public health. Our projects across California, including Buttonbush, are helping to make this a reality. In addition to the environmental benefits of solar power, sustainability is central to Avantus’ company culture and influences our approach from project design to construction and operations.
We are proud of our reputation for environmental stewardship. Our past projects have garnered support from respected groups including the Sierra Club, Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
