South Monterey County residents upset over $850 million solar project in Parkfield

A solar project worth nearly $1 billion is coming to Monterey County. On Tuesday, county supervisors approved an $850 million solar farm backed by technology giant Apple.

The California Flats Solar Project will span more than 2,000 acres along the Monterey and San Luis Obispo county line near Parkfield.

But some residents are not happy about their soon-to-be neighbors.

“This is a slap in the face to me,” said resident W.J. Vanboxtel.

Vanboxtel and his wife retired in South Monterey County to enjoy the simple life. But he said the project will be eyesore.

“We can look at it from every one of the acres of our ranch. They are building it immediately up to the property line,” said Vanboxtel.

Project managers from First Solar said they expect the project to bring in over 500 jobs. Besides powering a majority of Apple’s campuses, it will also help power thousands of homes in the state through a purchase agreement with PG&E.

Koryn Kendall with First Solar said, “280 megawatts will generate enough clean renewable energy to power nearly 100,000 average California homes.”

With all that sunshine, Kendall said South Monterey County is the perfect location. But residents like Vanboxtel aren’t convinced. He claims the project is going to diminish their property values.

“It’s been told by an appraiser probably 50 percent of our property value is going to disappear when that thing is built. That’s significant,” said Vanboxtel.

Supervisors in San Luis Obispo County still have to approve the project in order for it to move forward. If everything goes as planned, construction is expected to begin sometime this year and wrap up in 2016.