SR-85 Utility-Scale Solar Project: The Facts
Project Overview
- Leading in greening Phoenix and the region
- Continuing Phoenix legacy of innovation in sustainability; e.g. single-stream recycling, managed competition in garbage collection, and 30 years in energy management
- First city to sponsor public/private partnership for utility-scale solar development
- Utility-scale project , 250 MW, enough power for 50,000 homes annually
- 1,600 acres in utility corridor at city’s only active landfill in Buckeye
- Minimal water usage, also landfill gas-to-energy component
Project Developer/Tessera Solar
- Private partner developing ¾ to 1 Billion dollar project
- Core business is utility-scale development, with experienced development team
- Developing 2 similar utility-scale projects in CA, has operational pilot plant in valley already
- Using cutting-edge, scalable technology with low-impact footprint
- Greatest ability to deliver project
- Highest revenue generation and return to the city of Phoenix
- Domestic technology suppliers
- Creating 100-300 construction jobs and 60 permanent jobs
- Additional economic impact – Tower Automotive/manufacturing facility potentially sitting in Phoenix
Achieving Goals
- Looking forward to this outstanding public/private partnership
- Confident the project will meet the city’s goals:
1) to green Phoenix and the region,
2) create new jobs and
3) complement the City’s sustainability policy goals: - Renewable Energy Target: 5% by 2025
- Climate Action Plan: reduce greenhouse gas emissions for city operations to 5% below 2005 levels by 2015
News conference announcing solar project (L to R): Phoenix Councilwoman Peggy Neely, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck, Tessera Solar VP Sean Gallagher
L to R: Mayor Meck, Councilwoman Neely, Mayor Gordon, Sean Gallagher
Remarks from Councilwoman Peggy Neely
Thank you Mayor Gordon and Mayor Meck and thanks to all of you for being here this morning.
What a wonderful day to celebrate the beginning of a new era in the history of our cities.
With our joint approval of the contract with Tessera Solar, we have launched a chapter in our history that will transform our economy, our communities and our ability to sustain healthy growth.
These days the economy demands that we be creative in every decision we make, and this project certainly is creative.
Building a large-scale solar energy project – a Utility-scale project that is 250 MW, enough power for 50,000 homes annually with minimal water usage.
Without a doubt, the Sun is the biggest power plant in the Universe, and with this project we will be able to tap some of its energy to create jobs and clean power for thousands of residents.
And given the need to not only create jobs, but to also find new and cleaner sources of energy, this project couldn’t come at a better time.
I think everyone in the Valley should be encouraged by this project and what it means for the future of delivering clean power to our neighborhoods and businesses… and I am pleased that we are now in a position to begin this effort in earnest. I look forward to this outstanding public/private partnership.
Thank you.