El Centro, CA) – Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead for a controversial solar project in Imperial County.

While some in the farm industry remained against the project, the supervisors called this a “defining moment” in job growth for Imperial County.

One life-long Brawley resident asked supervisors to approve the project, saying "for the first time in my lifetime, i see opportunities for this county."

However, both sides gave parties for and against the Centinela Solar Energy Project.

One opponent said “approving another (project) without guarantees – that would make you fools.”

The project would be able to produce 275 megawatts of solar energy that will sit on privately owned farmland near Seeley.

Farmer Carolyn Allen told supervisors “there’s an obvious lack of concern for the impact on agriculture resources evident in the Final Environmental Impact Report.”

Some agriculture workers, like Allen, worry about the impact on farmland.

Opponents question what would happen to water and air quality – even stating the impact on water could further harm the Salton Sea.

Farmers also worry about a key part of the plan.

Supervisors plan to strip the Williamson Act, which preserves agriculture land against residential or urban development, for three parcels of farmland.

Allen argued “approval of these projects goes against everything the Williamson Act stands for.”

However, others say it’s their choice what happens to their property.

Landowner Kay Bishop told supervisors "we as farmers have the right to do as we see fit on our land."

LS Power Development says it plans to minimalize the project's effects.

It also argues the land chosen does not produce many crops anyway.

However the biggest persuasion for supervisors comes down to one word: jobs.

Dale Costas told supervisors he’s been out of work, and is one of many people “counting on green jobs to create employment opportunities to get people back to work."

Several other members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who are training in El Centro, argued they have been training for renewable energy jobs – waiting for this day to come.

The Centinela Solar Energy Project will bring just shy of ten full-time jobs.

It will also produce more than 300 construction jobs.

LS Power Development says they will try to keep those construction jobs local.

In a rare moment, Supervisor Gary Wyatt became emotional.

Wyatt spoke about the lack of job opportunities for his family – adding young people cannot get a job in the Desert Southwest and have to move away for good career opportunities.

Other supervisors added that although farming is significant to the Imperial Valley’s economy, the industry does not keep the county afloat – and has not brought the region’s unemployment rate below 20-to-30-percent.

Supervisors said this vote leads the way for similar green projects – and job growth – in the future.

Supervisors also approved a Public Benefit Program to collect fees on solar projects on farmland.