The Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved a major land use change proposal for a 1,089-acre solar power installation southwest of Maricopa. The Tap Solar project would include a 250-megawatt photovoltaic solar facility with 250 megawatts of battery energy storage with solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers.
The proposed site lies about five miles southwest of Maricopa and five miles west of Highway 347, bordered by Papago Road, Warren Road, and Val Vista Road. The project area includes the Vekol Wash along its eastern edge and is intersected by the Santa Rosa Canal. The location would connect to the existing Pinal West substation, approximately 2.5 miles northwest of the site.
Supporters highlight several benefits of the project, including significant water conservation compared to the site’s current agricultural use. The development would deliver power to an estimated 385,000 Arizona homes while generating minimal traffic impact, with only four daily trips anticipated during operation. The project would also create approximately 450 construction jobs, though long-term employment would be limited.
The City of Maricopa has objected to the proposal, noting it conflicts with their general plan which designates the area for residential and commercial development. The site currently holds approval for 3,874 homes, two elementary schools, and various commercial developments. Environmental concerns have also been raised, as the Arizona Game and Fish Department identified 53 species that could be impacted, including the endangered Sonoran pronghorn and the Sonoran desert tortoise.
The proposal has already received support from the Citizens Advisory Committee, which voted 9-7 in favor, and the Planning and Zoning Commission, which recommended approval in a 6-1 vote. At the meeting, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the land use change from moderate low density residential to green energy production.
The project comes amid proposed changes to Arizona’s energy regulations. The Arizona Corporation Commission’s current Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff rules, established in 2006, require 15% renewables by 2025. The Commission has proposed updating these standards to require 50% renewables by 2035 and 100% clean energy by 2050, though these new rules are still under review.
With this approval, the developer will next need to seek a Planned Area Development Overlay and zone change from residential and business zones to industrial zoning before the project can proceed.
