Folsom-based 8minutenergy will start construction next month on a 700-acre solar farm east of Cantil that will generate enough electricity for 250,000 people.

President Tom Buttgenback says abundant sunlight and previous success at a facility southeast of Bakersfield brought the company back to Kern County.

“Eastern Kern has a tremendously good solar resource,” he said. “It’s obviously a desert location, but it’s also elevated.”

Buttgenback says construction will create about 700 temporary jobs, and 20 permanent jobs will be established when the site comes on line next year.

– Anthony Pollreisz