Cadiz Inc. announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UK-based Hoku Energy Limited and its affiliates to explore the development of a major clean energy campus at Cadiz Ranch in California’s Mojave Desert. The MOU grants Hoku Energy a three-year exclusive option to develop more than 10,000 acres of land for a project that could include green hydrogen production, large-scale renewable and low-carbon power generation, battery storage, and integrated digital infrastructure such as data centers. This marks Cadiz’s second clean energy land lease agreement within the past year, reinforcing the company’s commitment to the sustainable development of its land and water assets.

“This agreement with Hoku Energy is the capstone of our long-term land use strategy,” said Susan Kennedy, Chair of Cadiz Inc. “Hoku Energy’s vision aligns with our mission to support sustainable, scaled development of critical energy and water infrastructure in California and the Southwest.”

The agreement allows Cadiz to continue its existing operations and planned developments, including agriculture, the Mojave Groundwater Bank, and a separate green hydrogen project with RIC Energy. It also reserves 400 acres for future commercial uses—potentially including a data center—where Hoku would hold a right of first refusal to supply power. The collaboration positions Cadiz Ranch as a potential hub for clean energy innovation and infrastructure in the southwestern United States.