Sex for solar? Examining patterns of public and private sector corruption within the booming California solar energy market

Abstract

Based on extensive research—including 38 interview respondents, four focus groups, participant observation, and extensive document analysis throughout Southeastern California—this article examines perceived patterns of corruption associated with a rapid boom in utility-scale solar energy investment and deployment. It identifies seven distinct corruption patterns over the recent period of 2010–2024. Clientelism is evident in the hiring of friends or colleagues on solar energy projects, and it is closely linked to favoritism, which refers to inefficiently allocating contracts, permits or licenses, at times in exchange for sex. Rent-seeking occurs in the diversion or capturing of public spending into private hands, and it can include land grabbing, or dispossessing groups of people of their communal or public land. Service diversion encompasses the avoidance of the distribution of local benefits. Theft includes the coercive removal of somebody else's equipment, property or cultural artifacts. Greenwashing refers to flawed impact assessments, as well as the overriding of environmental objectives or misleading the public about the environmental benefits of a project. Tax evasion refers to nonpayment or underpayment of taxes, or avoiding strategically the payment of local taxes. Non-transparency is evidenced in the hiding or failing to disclose relevant or important information. We conclude by calling for major reforms of the solar energy market and by identifying an agenda for future research.