Board approves rezoning for Eloy Valley Energy Center to allow large solar farm and battery storage

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved rezoning and a planned area development overlay for the Eloy Valley Energy Center (PZ009-26 / PZPD009-26), a proposed utility-scale photovoltaic project with an associated battery energy storage system south of the city of Eloy.

Planning staff said the request would convert roughly 1,263 acres from general rural to industrial I-3 with a PAD to govern setbacks, screening and decommissioning. Planner Sam Amaya summarized the site plan and public participation, reporting initial public input that the county had received letters “21 letters of support and 12 letters of opposition” before publication and additional letters afterward. The applicant, Sean Lake, said the project is contracted with local power entities: “This is contracted with AIPCO and they will be providing power to 82, 83, 84, and Trico,” and he described letters of support from the city of Eloy and local fire districts.

Public-power representatives and project partners told the board the development supports utility portfolios as hydropower allocations decline. Brian Yerges, speaking for Electrical District No. 3, said the project is interconnected to the existing federal transmission (WAPA) system and will “backstop” lost hydro resources. Fire-safety consultant James Caulfield described technical changes since earlier high-profile fires — including a move toward lithium iron phosphate chemistry and new testing and response standards — and recommended site-specific emergency response plans and community air monitoring as part of safety measures.

Supervisors questioned where power physically flows on the grid and whether local customers will benefit. The applicant and a public-power representative said a substantial portion of the output is contracted to public power and cooperative customers in Arizona, while cautioning that individual electrons cannot be tracked across the grid.

After public testimony and board discussion the board moved and seconded motions to approve the rezoning and PAD; both motions passed. The approvals included the stipulation read into the record that modifies a screening/stipulation for equipment enclosures and lists site-specific conditions and decommissioning requirements. The board did not add additional stipulations at final vote.

Implementation details — including final site plans, traffic and drainage reports, and the applicant’s decommissioning plan — will be handled in subsequent site-plan and permitting steps.