For Immediate Release
Contact: pubaffairs@wwd.ca.gov
(559) 241-6233
Westlands Water District Launches Electrical Transmission Interconnection Process for Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan
Developers will soon be able to apply for transmission interconnection as part of major clean energy project in the San Joaquin Valley
Fresno, California – Westlands Water District (WWD) announced the next major step in the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan (VCIP), issuing advance notice of an upcoming transmission interconnection request process for generation projects seeking access to the planned WWD Transmission System—a foundational step in advancing one of California’s most ambitious clean energy and land repurposing initiatives.
VCIP is Westlands’ long-term strategy to repurpose up to 136,000 acres of drainage-impaired and water-limited land for solar generation and transmission infrastructure—creating a productive, sustainable alternative for lands increasingly constrained by water scarcity while supporting California’s clean energy future, local economies, and environmental stewardship.
“The Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan is about creating opportunity out of challenge,” said Allison Febbo, General Manager of Westlands Water District. “For decades, Westlands has confronted the realities of inadequate and unreliable water supplies in the San Joaquin Valley. VCIP is a forward-looking path that puts idle, impacted lands back to work—supporting agricultural resilience, strengthening our local economy, advancing California’s clean energy future, and creating long-term value for our communities.”
At full build-out, VCIP could generate up to 21 gigawatts of renewable energy—enough to power the equivalent of nine million homes—and provide as much as one-sixth of California’s electricity needs by 2035. The initiative is also projected to create approximately 6,000 construction jobs, 800 permanent jobs, provide landowners with new long-term revenue streams, support groundwater sustainability, and preserve continued agricultural activity on remaining productive farmland.
As part of this vision, Westlands has established a transparent, structured, and non-discriminatory interconnection framework through a new Transmission Owner Access Policy (TOAP) and Large Generator Interconnection Procedures (LGIP) to evaluate future interconnection requests for the WWD Transmission System. The framework includes:
- A formal opportunity to request interconnection to the WWD Transmission System
- A structured application and technical study process to evaluate project feasibility
- An initial cluster-based study approach to assess system impacts and identify required upgrades
Westlands expects to publish additional interconnection process details, application materials, and technical information on or around May 15, 2026, with an initial interconnection request window tentatively scheduled for June 15–26, 2026.
Interested developers are invited to submit preliminary, non-binding expressions of interest to help inform planning and study readiness. Submissions will not establish queue position or confer interconnection rights.
Additional information will be available at the VCIP website: vcip.wwd.ca.gov. Those interested in learning more about the broader vision of the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan are encouraged to review Westlands’ VCIP fact sheet.
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About Westlands Water District
Westlands Water District is recognized as a world leader in agricultural water conservation and has served the farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties for more than seven decades. As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, Westlands continually invests in conservation and champions farmers deploying innovative irrigation methods based on the best available technology.