Amid soaring energy demands, officials in Arizona have approved a 2,000-acre solar project that will power thousands of homes, create jobs, and generate substantial tax revenue.
The Phoenix Business Journal reported that the California-based venture Avantus Clean Energy will begin construction on the Pinyon Solar Project in 2026 and is expected to be finished by 2028. The 18-month construction period is expected to employ over 500 people. The location, situated south of Phoenix in Maricopa County, was chosen to minimize disruption to the environment and the community.
The completed project will produce enough energy to power 70,000 homes. Colin Mann, director of permitting, told the outlet the project will bring in much-needed local tax revenue:
"Beyond job creation, the Pinyon solar and storage project will generate over $100 million in tax revenues to benefit local services, such as schools, public safety and infrastructure, throughout its operating life."
As the sunniest state in the union, Arizona is particularly well-suited for solar energy, currently ranking fourth nationwide. The Copper State broke previous records for energy use last year due to a high number of heatwaves and the opening of energy-intensive data centers. Phoenix has the second-highest number of data centers in the country after Northern Virginia. Solar offers a way to add clean energy to the grid quickly with minimal disruption. Other states are exploring ways to utilize land for dual purposes by adding solar panels to farms and mines.
As a clean energy source, solar helps reduce dependency on dirty energy sources and saves money for consumers. Solar is now a mature technology, meaning its cost has plummeted and will continue to decrease over time, with an average price drop of 20% every decade.
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Though the current administration is hostile to renewable energy projects, it's not a battle they can win. Solar is simply too popular across the political divide and too cheap to hold back forever.
The only real sticking point for most is that initial cost. Fortunately, even as federal incentives are jettisoned, there are still ways to save thousands off the installation cost. With EnergySage, you can compare quotes and maximize savings of up to $10,000 with just a click.
For Maricopa County, this project is just the beginning, as a report noted:
"Multiple solar projects have been proposed in the area due to the ideal location."
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