In 2023, a group called California Forever, funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, introduced a splashy proposal to build a new city on tens of thousands acres of farmland it had acquired north-east of San Francisco.

Residents and officials of Solano county, where the city would sit, were frustrated by what they saw as a lack of local input and concerned about wealthy outsiders with big plans to reshape their region. After months of extensive news coverage and efforts to woo over local leaders, California Forever changed track: withdrawing a ballot measure that would have fast-tracked the plans and instead seeking approval through standard county processes.

This month California Forever found itself back in the spotlight for a new proposal, and one that has been greeted far more warmly – using the land it owns for the creation of a shipbuilding hub. The Trump administration has reportedly drafted an executive order to revitalize the shipbuilding industry in the US.

The company, which now owns more than 65,000 acres in Solano county, said in a statement that Solano “is uniquely positioned to answer the call for rebuilding our nation’s naval power” and that it could “drive economic revitalization” across the region.

“We are very early in the process, and are working with elected officials and local communities to explore how we can best use these assets to support American Sailors and stimulate economic growth in our cities, county, and broader region,” the company said in a statement.

Solano county, located about 60 miles (97km) from San Francisco, is home to nearly 450,000 people and has a history of shipbuilding. It was the site of the first US navy base on the Pacific Ocean, which operated for more than 140 years. Today the largest employer in the region is the Travis air force base – the country’s busiest – which has more than 10,000 personnel.

California Forever began buying up land in the county in secret, years before going public with their plans for a new city. They promoted the effort as a solution to California’s housing crisis and said the new city – with its utopian vision of green infrastructure and walkable neighborhoods – would bring extensive new job opportunities to the region and pledged that the project would not impose any financial obligations or taxes on residents outside the community. But they quickly encountered intense pushback.

A local chapter of the Sierra Club described the company’s efforts as a “hostile takeover”. Last year, they withdrew the measure from the ballot and agreed to an environmental report and development agreement on the project.

Meanwhile, last year as Joe Biden expressed interest in bringing shipbuilding back to the US, the company was in touch with local officials expressing interest in pursuing such an opportunity on the west coast.

Then last week Edwin Okamura, the mayor of the Solano county town of Rio Vista, announced that he had met with California Forever representatives, retired military leaders and other officials in the county to discuss the matter, as well as a proposed site near the small riverside settlement of Collinsville.

John Carli, the mayor of Vacaville, said that he also visited the area and met with retired military officials who said the site was one of the most ideal locations in the US and described a shipbuilding operation there as a “one-of-a-kind opportunity”. That site, California Forever said in its statement, has more than 1,400 acres of land that was proactively zoned for “maritime industrial uses”. It would be used a manufacturing and assembling location rather than a port, Carli said.

The effort is still in its early stages, officials have said, pending the executive order.

But so far, officials in the region have expressed enthusiasm about efforts to expand the maritime industry. Alma Hernandez, the mayor of Suisun City about 30 miles north-west of Collinsville, said in a statement that the city backs an expansion.

“Suisun City stands in support of a regional effort to invite the US government and leading defense contractors to invest in Solano county’s future,” Hernandez said. “Our region has a proud history of shipbuilding – it is part of our identity. We are eager to contribute in every way possible to ensure maritime success in our region.”

The benefits would extend far beyond the shipyard, Carli said, pointing to the more than $2.7bn in economic impacts the air force base has in the region. And a maritime industrial base would be a benefit to the air force base, he said.

With the history of shipbuilding in the region and the role it plays in US defense, it makes sense to have this kind of project in the region, said state assembly member Lori Wilson, and it would bring significant opportunities. If it were to move ahead, Wilson expects the shipyard could become the largest employer in the county.

Wilson said she had heard from many constituents about the project, most of whom were supportive. Some have expressed concern about the environmental impacts of the maritime industry and the role of California Forever, given the level of distrust that exists with the organization. The lawmaker has herself been skeptical of the company.

“That’s something as a legislative representative for this area I’m mindful of, but it’s not something I can address. It’s up to them to build trust.”

Still, even those who did not support plans for a new city are interested in this project, Wilson said. “Folks are really excited about this opportunity and [the potential] for shipbuilding to come back to Solano county. There is a groundswell of support for this project and I’m really excited to do my part to bring this to fruition.”

Carli expects the community will look beyond the landowners. “I’m confident residents will recognize and support this project if the opportunity would present itself here locally,” Carli said. “It merits thoughtful discussion with the community to understand this is different than a proposed city.”