Greentech Lead America: Arizona Public Service (APS) has completed the first 17 megawatts (MW) of the Foothills Solar Power Plant, the fifth APS AZ Sun facility and the first ever solar project to be built on Arizona State Trust Land.
For this project APS has formed partnership with AMEC, an international engineering and project management company.
With a capacity of 35 MW, the Foothills Solar Plant will generate enough electricity to power 8,750 local Yuma customers.
The plant is being built in two phases: the first 17 MW is now online in Yuma, and the remaining 18 MW is scheduled to reach commercial operation by the end of the year.
“Arizona now ranks second in the country in solar megawatts installed, and APS is a big part of making Arizona a national leader in solar development,” said APS Chairman and CEO Don Brandt. “In fact, by the end of this year APS will have almost 700 MW of solar energy in our generation portfolio – enough electricity to serve 175,000 Arizona homes.”
Foothills is the first solar facility ever to be built on Arizona State Trust Land. The plant was built by Atlanta, Ga.-based AMEC , a provider of project management and clean energy development services.
“Foothills is the culmination of the hard work and great partnership between AMEC, APS, Yuma County and the State Land Department,” said Larry Myers, AMEC vice president and Executive Sponsor of solar projects. “Over the next eight months, we will continue our efficient and innovative construction process to complete the remaining 18 MW, helping Arizona and APS utilize the state’s most abundant resource to generate clean energy for its customers.”
The AZ Sun Program was approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission and enables APS to invest in the development of solar photovoltaic power plants across Arizona. APS will finance and own the projects, which are being designed and constructed by third-party solar developers, contractors and equipment providers.
APS has a 35-year lease on the land, at a cost of $10 million. The proceeds from land sales and leases of State Trust land go to the beneficiaries of the State Land Trust, primarily Arizona Common Schools, supporting grades K-12.