Cadiz Inc. (NASDAQ: CDZI) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UK-based Hoku Energy Limited and its affiliates to develop a large-scale clean energy campus at Cadiz Ranch, located in California’s Mojave Desert. This marks the second clean energy land lease agreement the company has secured in the past year, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to sustainable land and water resource development.
Under the terms of the MOU, Hoku Energy has been granted a three-year exclusive option to pursue development on over 10,000 acres at Cadiz Ranch. The proposed project could feature green hydrogen production, renewable and low-carbon energy generation, large-scale battery storage, and digital infrastructure, including data centers—either on the leased property or in conjunction with facilities nearby.
The agreement allows Cadiz to maintain its existing and planned operations at the site, including agricultural activities and development of the Mojave Groundwater Bank. It also preserves 400 acres for future commercial uses, such as a data center. Should a data center be established within this reserved area, Hoku Energy will have the right of first refusal to supply it with power.
“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.”
Cadiz Ranch’s infrastructure—featuring access to rail lines, water assets, pipelines, and utility corridors—makes it an ideal location for large-scale renewable energy and data center projects. The Hoku partnership builds on Cadiz’s previous agreement with RIC Energy, signed in 2024, to develop up to 3,000 acres for green hydrogen production.
Together, the Hoku and RIC projects are expected to transform Cadiz Ranch into one of North America’s leading clean energy and hydrogen production hubs.
Further information about the MOU is available in a Form 8-K filed by Cadiz with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today.
