Alternative-fuel truck manufacturer Nikola Corporation has paid $16.5M for a 920-acre site in south Buckeye west of SR 85.
The purchaser was listed as Phoenix Hydrogen Hub LLC, represented by Peak Group LLC. The seller was Hardison Farms.
Nikola currently produces battery-powered semitrucks and is working to add hydrogen-fueled trucks to its vehicle suite. The company is targeting availability for its first hydrogen-powered truck in the second half of 2023.
Nikola has repeatedly said it plans to build a hydrogen production facility in Arizona to support its operations. The company said in August it plans to start construction this year, but no location has been announced. It partnered with Canada-based TC Energy last year to explore development of hydrogen hub facilities, and Phoenix Hydrogen Hub LLC’s managers are senior officials with Nikola and TC Energy.
Nikola is also planning a hydrogen fueling network for its vehicles, with the first three stations to come in California.
Despite abundant speculation, Nikola has not confirmed the planned Arizona hydrogen facility and the Buckeye land purchase are related. Buckeye officials have said there are no developments to report with Nikola or the newly purchased site beyond negotiations.
Buckeye was the originally planned location for Nikola’s vehicle manufacturing facility. The company instead chose to locate the plant in Coolidge because that site was able to meet infrastructure needs more quickly to allow operations to commence. (Source)