The Navajo County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution last week approving a special use permit for construction on a solar energy facility called Hashknife Energy Center.
The facility, which is planned to sit on nearly 3,000 acres south of Joseph City will begin construction in 2021 according to permit applicant Invenergy.
Assistant County Engineer Sandra Phillips said, “We are looking at panel heights of 10 feet, there are no glare issues associated with the project. They have done substantial studies. The applicant has reviewed our stipulations and agreed to them, including dust control and ground disturbance.”
Invenergy is a solar energy company with headquarters in Chicago and branches throughout the United States. Analyst for the company, Quentin Stuart said, “I am based out of Denver and we are a large developer. We have developed projects across the globe. One of the big reasons I joined this group is because of what we can do in rural communities like Navajo County. I am from a rural area and I understand the impact that irresponsible development can have and how responsible development can really grow and build a community like this.”
He explained the project further, “Our point of impact will be directly to the Cholla Power Plant, we will take a transmission line and run it to Cholla, which is about three miles away. Another thing I want to mention is that solar projects have minimal impact on local infrastructure and services. It is a low fire risk, we don’t use a lot of water, we will make sure the roads are maintained and left the way we found them. Further, we have done studies on local vegetation and restoration. We have been working with the Arizona Game and Fish Department as well and they have no concerns for wildlife in this corridor. We plan to leave everything the way that we found it.”
Not only will the project offer an alternative energy source to the county, as Stuart explained but it will also boost the struggling economy. “We will create between 200-400 jobs while we are in construction, and once it is complete, we will sustain 3-5 full time jobs. This will add property tax revenue to the county and during construction, there will be increased local economic activity throughout the area as crew members stay, eat and spend money within the county.”
The majority of the land Hashknife Energy Center will occupy is owned by Aztec Land and Cattle Company based in Scottsdale and the remaining parcel is state land.
Aztec owns land across Navajo County that is leased to ranchers for grazing their cattle. One such rancher is former Navajo County Supervisor J.R. DeSpain, who gave an emotional speech during the meeting.
“We are going to lose 3,000 acres from our grazing permit in this deal. We are the lessee; we lease from Mr. Brophy at Aztec and of course he has the right to do what he wants to do with his property. But I guess this is progress for Navajo County. We will reduce our herd by a third or more and it will probably reduce our income. I think it is your responsibility as board members to hold this company’s feet to the fire to make sure that they not only do what they say they are going to do, but when they leave this place in 25 or 30 years, that they leave that land so generations after us can graze it. Some of our biggest concerns are soil erosion and the scene of the sunset without being disturbed by commercial stuff.”
District III Supervisor Jason Whiting, appearing telephonically said, “Mr. DeSpain, I admire that you are finding a way to work with the applicant to find a way forward. I appreciate that effort.”
District IV Supervisor Steve Williams expressed concern over a plan from Invenergy for decommissioning the facility. Phillips said, “We worked really hard with the applicant and the landowner to make sure the land is restored. Also, there is an agreement between the applicant and Aztec land as well as the resolution before you today so there are all kinds of safeguards put in place.”
Susan Iness with Invenergy added, “Just to echo what Sandra said, we have a requirement to hold a decommissioning bond equal to the cost to remove the property in the event that we go out of business, so there won’t be any impact to the landowner.”
The resolution was approved by the board unanimously. Construction is set to begin in early 2021 with commercial production of energy expected that same year.
