Bakersfield Development Digest

• BLM opened a 30-day comment period ending Aug. 1 on 50 parcels up to 36,000 acres across Kern and nearby counties for potential future lease...

A California Resources Corporation proposal for the Golden Valley Technology Hub would place a 100-acre data center deep inside the Elk Hills oil...

The Merced-to-Madera contract expands active high-speed rail work to a 171-mile Central Valley corridor reaching Bakersfield, advancing the full spine...

The Bakersfield Association of Realtors joined statewide efforts to halt AB 736, a bill that would have capped certain real estate taxes at 1.5% but...

• Downtown plans disrupted: High-speed rail station moved 5 miles north of downtown to 7th Standard Road, scrapping the original Amtrak-adjacent site...

Major Project Proposals

• 🔥 Golden Valley Technology Hub: California Resources Corporation proposes a 400,000-square-foot AI data center on 100...

Major Project Approvals

• 🔥 Discovery Solar Project: Kern County Board of Supervisors approved the 7,000-acre Discovery Solar PV and Storage...

• Project scale: 7,000-acre facility will generate 1,400 MW and employ up to 660 workers during peak construction
• Core concern: State tax exemptions...

Kern County supervisors approved a 7,000-acre solar project in East Kern while criticizing state tax exemptions. This highlights ongoing tensions between large-scale development and local property tax revenue under state policies.

High-speed rail officials are exploring leases of land, fiber, and power along the Merced-Bakersfield route to attract hyperscale data centers.

-...

Kern County filed suit challenging Bakersfield's sewer rate increase, citing Prop 218 violations tied to stormwater funding and prepaid future...

Challenges to Wastewater Infrastructure Funding

• 🔥 County Sues Over Sewer Rates: Kern County filed suit alleging Bakersfield's sewer rate hikes...

Kern County's approval of the Discovery Solar project will inject substantial property tax revenue into the regional tax base, starting with $44...

Kern County's lawsuit challenges Bakersfield's sewer rate hikes for allegedly embedding illegal stormwater fees and disproportionate costs, directly...

Iran-linked hackers claim breach of Bakersfield water systems last Thursday, raising critical infrastructure security concerns despite no reported service disruption.

Infrastructure Funding Dispute

• 🔥 County Lawsuit on Sewer Rates: Kern County filed a lawsuit against Bakersfield challenging the approved...

Councilmember Ken Weir will not seek reelection after representing Ward 3 for 20 years.

A recent KGET News video covers tree canopy conservation efforts in Bakersfield, linking urban forestry to sustainable development and quality of life improvements.

Kern County sued the City of Bakersfield over its approved five-year sewer rate plan, alleging the increases violate the California Constitution by...

Park Development Projects

• 🔥 MLK Park Revitalization: Proposed city budget allocates $3 million to MLK Park as match for $11.9 million federal...