Maricopa, AZ – The Pinal County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a major land use change for a 159.68-acre solar power installation north of the Nissan Technical Center. The Frontier East Solar project, proposed by Sawtooth DevCo LLC, will include a 50-megawatt photovoltaic solar facility with a 300-megawatt battery energy storage system.
The project site is bounded by the Ak-Chin Indian Community to the north and Nissan’s test facility to the south. This approval comes as a related project, Frontier West Solar, was recently withdrawn from consideration. The withdrawn project would have covered 1,047 acres west of the Nissan Test Site near SR347 and W. Louis Johnson Drive. The approved Frontier East installation will connect to the existing Santa Rosa substation, approximately one mile from the site, following a similar approach to the recently authorized 1,089-acre Tap Solar project located southwest of Maricopa.
Project supporters highlighted several benefits, including minimal water usage compared to current agricultural practices. The development will provide clean energy while generating property tax revenue for schools and special districts without burdening county services.
The City of Maricopa’s opposition to these solar projects, along with the previously approved Tap Solar Project, reflects a broader conflict over regional development plans. The city had previously approved the Hidden Valley Planned Area Development, which would have brought 3,874 homes, two elementary schools, commercial space, and over 200 acres of open space to the area. City officials argue that solar installations, while providing clean energy, don’t advance their goals for residential growth, long-term employment opportunities, or infrastructure development. The city’s General Plan envisions these areas as future sites for master-planned communities, commercial development, and employment centers rather than utility-scale energy production.
The project received strong support throughout the approval process, with the Citizens Advisory Committee voting 13-2 in favor and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommending approval in a 7-0 vote before the Board of Supervisors’ final approval.
