By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX
EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR) is proposing to develop a large solar energy park at the NWC of the intersection of Bianco Road and Interstate 8 in Casa Grande.
The Pinal County Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed a Comprehensive Plan Amendment request at its work session meeting yesterday, to redesignate 795 acres of private land from Moderate Low Density Residential and Employment to Green Energy Production.
According to the documents filed with Pinal County, the project, named Casa Grande Carmel Solar Park, is proposed as a photovoltaic solar facility with an anticipated electrical output of 100 MW.
“The project will also require an overhead 69kV gen-tie transmission line and additional project facilities, including tables and trackers, posts, cabling and power conversion stations,” the applicant’s narrative states.
The addition of an energy storage system with the solar park is currently being evaluated.
The solar park is expected to interconnect with APS’ recently completed 69kV Thornton Substation and help provide them with the extra 5,000 MW of power they require by the end of 2032, according to APS’ 2017 Integrated Resource Plan.
The project will also be located near other substations and solar projects as well as to the planned Lucid Motors manufacturing facility. According to the narrative, the developer went through 12-24 months of intensive prospecting and land work before the location was selected.
The Casa Grande Carmel Solar Park is expected to be operational sometime in 2021 or 2022 and provide around 200 jobs and $16M in tax revenue. Once completed the 100 MW of power will be enough to power up approximately 27,000 homes, according to the narrative.
“Over the next several months, EDPR will work to progress or complete permitting, environmental studies, the interconnection process, planning, design and construction of the Project in order to meet the commercial operation milestone.”
A request for a timeline of when the project will go to a voting session has not been returned by press time.
1 Comment
Hello this seems awesome for home owners I just have one question. How much money is this project going to cost the city? 16 million in tax rev is amazing I’m just not seeing the price tag of investment and could any city members have a way to invest in solar energy?