California to Build 700 MW Solar & Battery Park

In a major step toward California’s clean energy mandates, a prominent commercial real estate and infrastructure consortium has greenlit the development of a 700 MW solar and battery park in the state’s Central Valley.

Announced in early February 2026, the project—dubbed the Rexford II Energy Center—is being developed in Tulare County. This facility follows the successful model of the nearby Rexford I, which currently stands as one of the largest solar-plus-storage operational sites in the nation.

Project Specifications: Powering the Future

The Rexford II project is designed to bridge the “reliability gap” in California’s grid, particularly during the late-afternoon “duck curve” when solar production drops but demand remains high.

• Solar Generation: 700 MW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity, utilizing high-efficiency bifacial panels.

• Storage Capacity: A co-located 700 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This system is designed for a 4-hour discharge duration, providing 2,800 MWh of total energy storage.

• Grid Impact: The park will generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 215,000 California homes annually.

• Land Use: The project is sited on roughly 4,500 acres of land that has been transitioned from traditional agricultural use due to water scarcity and soil salinity issues.

The Real Estate & Investment Play

The project highlights a surging trend of “Real Asset” diversification, where traditional real estate groups are pivoting into Digital and Green Infrastructure.

Strategic Highlights

• Investment Profile: The project represents a capital investment of approximately $1.1 billion, funded through a mix of private equity and tax-equity financing enabled by the extended Investment Tax Credits (ITC).

• BESS as “Utility Real Estate”: Real estate firms are increasingly viewing battery sites as high-yield “ground leases.” By securing long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with utilities like Southern California Edison (SCE), these projects offer the predictable cash flow traditionally associated with commercial office or industrial leases.

• Economic Boost: Construction is expected to create over 500 union jobs at its peak and provide $200 million in local tax revenue over the project’s 35-year lifespan.

California’s 2026 Energy Landscape

As of February 2026, California has surpassed 15,000 MW of utility-scale battery storage, a nearly 20-fold increase since 2020.

“This isn’t just a power plant; it’s a critical piece of infrastructure that treats energy as the ultimate ‘tenant.’ By co-locating 700 MW of storage with 700 MW of solar, we are effectively solving the intermittency problem for a quarter-million people.” — Project Lead Analyst, Feb 2026