Bakersfield Development Digest

BLM's Records of Decision open over a million acres in Kern and neighboring counties to oil and gas leasing, bypassing the required 60-day Governor’s...

The Toucan Trolley pilot linking Downtown Bakersfield and Old Town Kern has been extended six months.

• Ridership rose from 371 boardings in March to...

Economic Development Director Donna Kunz plans to retire from full-time work in August after overseeing redevelopment efforts.

• 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.

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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.