Source: Canary Media

Excerpt:

There’s a lot of empty land along California’s highways — and the state will soon be looking at how it can fill some of it up with solar panels, batteries and power lines to help meet its clean energy targets.

That’s the goal of SB 49, a bill passed by California lawmakers and now awaiting the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom (D). The bill orders the California Department of Transportation to ​“evaluate the suitability” of the land it owns alongside highway roadways, exits and interchanges for developing renewable energy, energy storage and electrical transmission and distribution facilities.

In a statement, State Sen. Josh Becker, the bill’s author, highlighted the potential for SB 49 to ​“get much-needed renewable energy built, support clean energy jobs and earn the state some extra revenue in the process” via lease payments from clean energy developers.

Read more: California looks to add solar and transmission along highways