The new shipyard may be located near Rio Vista, California. Credit: Getty ImagesA group of Silicon Valley billionaires plan to construct a utopian city of yesterday remains on hold until at least 2026. In the meantime, California Forever is pursuing an alternative option for some of its 60,000 acres purchased through years of stealth real estate dealings. According to Rio Vista mayor Edwin Okamura, early discussions are underway to transform a portion of California Forevers land into a largescale shipbuilding port.A proposed site for this initiative is near Collinsvillean area long suspected as a potential port, Okamura wrote last week in a social media post. Preliminary conversations also included potential tax incentives, federal infrastructure funding, and immediate job creation.The Solano County town of Collinsville is located roughly 40 miles from San Francisco on the Sacramento River, which ultimately feeds into the Pacific Ocean. Attempts to build a new shipbuilding port in the area date back to at least 1989, and focus on an estimated 1,400 acres previously identified for maritime industrial uses.Although no longer the hub it once was, Solano County and the surrounding region has a deep shipbuilding history that dates back to the opening of Mare Island Naval Shipyard (MINS) in 1854. MINS was central to the development and expansion of US naval capabilities for nearly 145 years, particularly when it came to World War II build-up efforts. It also served for decades as a submarine port. The US government finally closed operations for around 7,500 remaining MINS employees in 1996.California Forever publicly announced its $900 million East Solano Plan in August 2023. Envisioned as an idyllic city of yesterday, the new towns founders boasted it would feature novel methods of design, construction, and governance. California Forevers pitch arrived after years of aggressive real estate dealings funded by a group of secretive investors led by former Goldman Sachs trader Jan Sramek. Backers were eventually revealed to include wealthy Silicon Valley venture capitalists like LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Lauren Powell Jobs, billionaire philanthropist and widow of Steve Jobs.The East Solano Plan received almost immediate pushback from both local residents and politicians, who criticized the organizations opaque real estate dealings and lofty promises. Meanwhile, environmental groups criticized the projects supposed eco-friendliness, with the Sierra Club describing the overall goals as a hostile takeover of vital agricultural and natural landscapes. Facing mounting pushback, California Forever withdrew an initial measure to fast-track plans that was slated for inclusion on the regions November 2024 election ballot. Representatives at the time said they would instead pursue the East Solano Plan through standard channels, including a full, independent environmental impact review along with preparing a development agreement with local county supervisors.I know from where I stand today, I support this maritime industrial opportunity, Vacaville mayor John Carli told Californias Daily Republic Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.The latest pivot arrives less than a month after President Trump announced intentions to revitalize US ship manufacturing. During his first state address on March 4, Trump referenced an impending executive order aimed at jumpstarting efforts to compete with Chinas longstanding commercial shipbuilding dominance. A draft of the Make Shipbuilding Great Again executive order obtained by The Washington Post also claimed the president would direct Congress to appropriate funds towards the creation of a US Office of Shipbuilding. Executive orders are not functionally identical to federally passed laws, and can be legally challenged.Meanwhile, maritime experts have already expressed doubts about the feasibility of the Trump White Houses vows for a quick return to domestic ship and naval manufacturing.It appears to be written by people who have absolutely no idea how the maritime supply chain works, Lars Jensen, CEO of Copenhagens Vespucci Maritime consultant agency, said of the EO earlier this month. Jensen cited President Trumps ongoing tariff war provocations, particularly those affecting steel and other manufacturing imports, as counterintuitive to any domestic shipbuilding goals. The Make Shipbuilding Great Again order has yet to be published.We used to make so many ships. We dont make them anymore very much, but were going to make them very fast, very soon, President Trump vowed earlier this month.In an email to Popular Science, a California Forever spokesperson clarified that even if shipyard plans do progress, the project isnt a shift away from the city, but did not provide more details at the time of writing.