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Photos: San Joaquin Valley coal plant proposal stirs controversy

Tall palm trees border the proposed site of a $4-billion coal power plant, Hydrogen Energy California, near a pistachio farm in Buttonwillow. Local farmers and farm workers are opposed to the idea, and that of a train yard in nearby Shafter slated for expansion to handle the coal shipped from East Coast.

Tall palm trees border the proposed site of a $4-billion coal power plant, Hydrogen Energy California, near a pistachio farm in Buttonwillow. Local farmers and farm workers are opposed to the idea, and that of a train yard in nearby Shafter slated for expansion to handle the coal shipped from East Coast.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A proposal to build a $4-billion “clean coal plant” amid pistachio orchards in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley has brought the region to the brink of a new beginning, or deeper divisions.

Testing technology in a fragile community

The proposed site of a $4-billion coal power plant, Hydrogen Energy California, near a pistachio farm in Buttonwillow. Local farmers and farm workers are opposed to the idea.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Testing technology in a fragile community

Orlando Sanchez checks on a pistachio sapling at farm near the proposed site of a $4-billion coal power plant, Hydrogen Energy California, in Buttonwillow.   (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Testing technology in a fragile community

Workers plant pistachio saplings near the proposed site of a $4-billion coal power plant, Hydrogen Energy California in Buttonwillow.   (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Testing technology in a fragile community

Chris, left, and John Romanini are the owners of pistachio farms near the proposed site of a $4-billion coal power plant, Hydrogen Energy California, in Buttonwillow.   (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Testing technology in a fragile community

The pistachio farm owned by Chris and John Romanini, near the proposed site of a $4-billion coal power plant, Hydrogen Energy California in Buttonwillow.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Testing technology in a fragile community

Don Van Lue, resident of Tupman, opposes the coal power plant.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Testing technology in a fragile community

Almond farmer Tom Frantz is opposed to the idea of using a train yard in Shafter for handling the coal shipped in for a proposed power plant.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Testing technology in a fragile community

A trench is being dug discourage trespassing onto the site of a proposed coal power plant in Buttonwillow.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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