According to the Merced County Planning Department, they will soon be starting a zoning code update that will be more specific about where solar development can occur.
In the interim, solar development can be approved in A-1 and A-2 zones with a Conditional Use Permit. The General Plan also supports this use, in accordance with section AG-3.11 which states, "Policy AG-3.11: Solar and Wind Energy Production Facilities (RDR): Encourage the installation of solar and wind energy production facilities in agricultural
areas so long as they do not result in a tax burden to the County, do not result in
permanent water transfers off of productive agricultural land, do not require
cancellation of Williamson Act contracts, and do not conflict with sensitive habitats or
other biological resources. In addition, approval of such facilities shall require
dedications of agricultural land and habitat mitigation when impacts to these resources
have been determined to be significant pursuant to CEQA, measures to control erosion,
and assurances for financing decommissioning activities."
This dataset displays all A-1 and A-2 zones.