It has been years in the making.
On Tuesday, county supervisors heard from both sides of a controversial proposed hydrogen energy plant that could be built near Tupman.
County supervisors and some residents have concerns about where the plant would be located, the disposal of waste, and the effect the process will have on prime farmland.
And, while the county has no official say on whether the plant gets built, it hopes to get some answers from the state.
The Hydrogen Energy California Power and Chemical Plant or "HECA" was proposed five years ago by SEC Energy.
It will take coal and petroleum coke and gasify it to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen will be used in two ways. One is to make the electricity, the other is making fertilizer.
And, the CO2 by-product will be used to enhance oil production in Elk Hills.
If this plant is approved, there could be several hundred truckloads a day headed to and from the power plant.
"They propose 350 trucks hauling coke and coal into this plant, maybe another 100 trucks hauling waste away. Just the traffic itself would be unthinkable, the emissions from these trucks, the emissions from the plant." said Mark Lambooy.
Lambooy, who has a farm across the street from the proposed site, is also concerned about pollution and the potential effect on his crops.
Opponents also worry the trucks will create more wear and tear on county roads.
The Kern County Farm Bureau has not taken an official stance on the project, but has raised concerns.
"Potential buy for cation as a result of new rail lines, loss of state designated important farmland, disruption of neighboring farm activities, and contributions of emissions negatively impacting local air quality, of which farming operations in the area are already significantly regulated," said Ben McFarland from the Kern County Farm Bureau.
Supporters argue the project will create thousands of construction jobs and long-term staffing at the facility.
It will also provide millions of dollars in tax revenue for the county, according to Michael Turnipseed from the Kern County Taxpayers Association.
"This project is not small by any sense of the imagination. When completed it will bring an additional $12 million into the general fund for the county in property taxes," said Turnipseed.
After several hours, county supervisors voted to ask the California Energy Commission, which has ultimate approval of the project, to address the county's concerns.
"I liken it to high speed rail. We don't get to make the final decision, but we get to live with the impacts. We need to make our concerns known and we cant wait till the project is built and say now we have a problem... what can you do to help us?" said Supervisor David Couch.
Another major concern for the county is how much waste will be sent to local landfills and the cost.
