Bear Creek Ranch in Wasco, California, is moving ahead with its plans for a 1.5-acre solar energy power generation facility, which will be used to power the water pumps and irrigation system for the almond orchards located around the facility.

"By implementing a solar power plant we are able to turn our energy costs into predictable fixed costs," said Keith Gardiner, managing partner of Bear Creek Ranch. "By hedging against rising utility rates, we can increase our profitability, have better cost control and improved forecasting capabilities."

Implementing this new process to power its water pumps and irrigation system is expected to allow Bear Creek Ranch to save more than $2.6 million in utility costs over the next 25 years.

The solar site is expected to produce 470,000 kilowatt-hours of green energy, which is the equivalent of not driving nearly 6 million miles over the course of a year.

Another solar power plant that recently began construction in California is an 100-kilowatt solar energy facility at Edwards Air Force Base, located in a remote area in Southern California, reported the San Jose Mercury News.