I lived in that area at one time- there were quite a few farms, mostly cotton- but some corn, maize, melons, onions, lettuce, etc. and also feed crops for cattle and other livestock. There were also several feedlots there where cattle were finished for beef, this was 30 years ago, so I don’t know what is going on there now. Depending on exactly where this is, it might not be the stark desert at all. One reason I wondered if they diverted farm land was the price they paid and the idea that it seems it would be easier to install the solar mirrors on land that had already been cleared and leveled.
Wind power makes more sense to me; here in New Mexico there is plenty of wind and though there are no wind farms in this part of the state I am sure there will be one day.
You are correct. Something about this deal smells. $14,700 an acre is outrageous for undeveloped desert land. I just heard of land going for $3,000 an acre, and it was only a few years ago that you could buy it at $100 an acre.
I will have to keep this on hand when I am thinking of selling property.