PANOCHE VALLEY SOLAR FARM
OperatingSolar power plant
- Capacity
- 399 MW
- Primary fuel
- Solar
- County
- San Benito County
- Operator
- PANOCHE VALLEY SOLAR LLC
- Status
- Operating
- Commissioned
- 2018
- EIA plant ID
- 57340
- Coordinates
- 36.7801, -120.7298
PANOCHE VALLEY SOLAR FARM, a 399 MW Solar power plant in San Benito County, California. Operated by PANOCHE VALLEY SOLAR LLC, commissioned 2018.
How PANOCHE VALLEY SOLAR FARM compares
With 399 MW of capacity, PANOCHE VALLEY SOLAR FARM ranks 39th among the 874 operating power plants Bywatts maps in California and 2nd of the 303 operating Solar plants in the state. It accounts for about 5.4% of California's operating Solar capacity and 0.6% of all operating capacity in the state. Nationally it is the 2nd-largest of the 639 operating Solar plants in the database. Commissioned in 2018, it is newer than 98% of the 859 operating California plants with a recorded commissioning year. It shares San Benito County with 2 other operating plants, ENERPARC CA1 LLC and HOLLISTER SOLAR LLC.
Grid neighborhood
The nearest named substation is SAN LUIS 5, under 0.1 miles away; the closest transmission line found within 10 miles is a 230 kV line owned by PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY, about 1.3 miles away. Another 7 operating power plants totaling 775 MW sit within 25 miles; the largest is PANOCHE ENERGY CENTER (432 MW, Natural Gas).
Computed by Bywatts from HIFLD power plant, substation and transmission line records and EIA-860 retirement records; distances are straight-line. Sources and methodology
Weather peril exposure
PANOCHE VALLEY SOLAR FARM is a 399 MW solar power plant in San Benito County, CA, operated by PANOCHE VALLEY SOLAR LLC, commissioned in 2018. San Benito County carries moderate modeled catastrophe exposure in the FEMA National Risk Index, scoring 2.0 of 5 at the 24th national percentile. Earthquake is the leading peril, rated Relatively Moderate by FEMA at the 100th percentile.
San Benito County hazard ratings
| Peril | FEMA rating | National percentile | Peril score | Share of modeled loss | Events per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 100th | 5.0 of 5 | 37% | 0.19 |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 98th | 4.9 of 5 | 45% | <0.01 |
| Riverine flooding | Relatively Low | 81st | 4.2 of 5 | 15% | 0.29 |
| Heat wave | Relatively Low | 71st | 3.8 of 5 | <1% | 8.2 |
| Tornado | Very Low | 11th | 1.4 of 5 | 1% | 0.12 |
| Hail | Very Low | 2nd | 1.1 of 5 | 1% | 0.10 |
| Strong wind | Very Low | 2nd | 1.1 of 5 | <1% | 0.03 |
| Winter weather | Very Low | 2nd | 1.1 of 5 | <1% | 1.5 |
| Lightning | Very Low | 2nd | 1.1 of 5 | <1% | 3.2 |
Perils not assessed in San Benito County
These perils carry no usable National Risk Index figure for this county, so they are excluded from the scoring rather than scored zero. A zero would claim the peril was assessed and found benign.
| Peril | Why it is not scored |
|---|---|
| Hurricane | FEMA rating is "Not Applicable" for this county |
| Coastal flooding | FEMA rating is "Not Applicable" for this county |
| Ice storm | FEMA rating is "Not Applicable" for this county |
Hail exposure and deductible structure
Hail scores 1.1 of 5, which sits in the 1% to 2% percentage deductible range carriers are quoting for that exposure. Named windstorm and severe convective wind score 1.4 of 5, indicating a 1% to 1% wind deductible. Ranges, not single figures. The final structure is set by the carrier.
Percentage hail deductible range: 1% to 2% of insured value. Wind deductible range: 1% to 1%. These are the structures commonly seen at this exposure, not an offer and not a rate.
Modeled annual loss for a 399 MW solar array
At an assumed replacement value of $0.90 per watt, or $359.1M insured, the modeled expected annual loss for a fixed tilt ground mount array in San Benito County is $140,180 a year, $351 per MW, 0.04% of insured value.
Heat is modeled as a production risk rather than a property loss: 2.1% of annual yield in this county.
Insurability signal: Standard. Wildfire carries 45% of modeled loss.
Model hail, wind and flood exposure for San Benito County in the weather risk calculator
Ratings are the FEMA National Risk Index county hazard ratings; the peril score is a Bywatts transform of the FEMA national percentile, and the modeled loss applies the Bywatts solar vulnerability layer. Full data sources and the solar vulnerability methodology are in the weather risk calculator.
Modeled estimate for screening and negotiation. Built from FEMA National Risk Index county hazard data and a solar vulnerability layer documented above. Not a quote, a binder, or actuarial advice, and not a substitute for a carrier's own model. Hazard data: FEMA National Risk Index December 2025, synced 2026-07-24. Resolution is county level, not site level. The solar vulnerability layer that turns FEMA building loss into modeled solar loss was derived by Bywatts and revised on physical reasoning. It has not been reviewed by a practising underwriter.