Developers Release List of Companies Bringing Jobs to Eco-Friendly East Solano

California Forever plans to create 15,000 high-paying jobs in Solano County in the next decade.

East Solano developers envision a solar farm that will take 10 years to build, employing 1,383 workers. Above, solar panels at the University of California, Merced, in Merced, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2022. Nathan Frandino/Reuters

Billionaire developers who hope to create a new eco-friendly community in Northern California’s Solano County announced May 16 the first set of companies committed to bringing jobs to future residents.

California Forever, the company behind the East Solano Plan, aims to create 15,000 well-paid jobs in Solano County in the next 10 years.

The first set of companies that have agreed to align themselves with the development represent industries such as manufacturing, farming, aerospace, biotech, and media. The company list includes:

• Hadrian: precision manufacturing for aerospace and defense.
• Living Carbon: growing plants that capture more carbon.
• Plenty: indoor vertical farming.
• Serve Robotics: self-driving robots that deliver orders on a sidewalk.
• Meter: internet infrastructure provider.
• Motive: fleet trucking operation.
• BREX: financial services.
• Cover: manufacturing modern homes.
• Build Casa: pays California homeowners cash to add more homes to lot spaces.
• Zipline: drone delivery and logistics.
• Freethink: media company that covers stories about the changing world.
• Instant Teems: customer teams built with military spouses.

“We believe in the vibrant communities of Solano County and recognize its unique assets and potential to support a thriving local economy,” said Michael Fortney, head of partnerships for California Forever.

“For too long, California has been sending good-paying jobs to Texas and Florida. With the East Solano Plan, our county is well-positioned to bring those jobs here instead.”

Hadrian’s founder and CEO Chris Power said the company is excited to be included.

“Hadrian is building a series of factories across America to enable space and defense manufacturers to get parts 10 [times] faster and halve the cost of making rockets, satellites, jets and drones,” Mr. Power said. “We are excited by the vision of amazing neighborhoods located next to a manufacturing zone designed to accelerate innovation in California.”

California Forever has collected nearly 25,000 signatures, enough to qualify for the November ballot, but has yet to gain official approval from the Solano County registrar of voters.

A yes vote would approve the developer’s general plan and rezoning of the agricultural land to designations that would allow the building of homes, businesses, parks, solar farms, and more.

The East Solano Plan includes approvals to build the largest solar farm in California, combined with a regional battery storage facility. The solar farm is expected to generate enough power for 1.5 million homes.