SRP’s largest solar power plant in Arizona to be developed northwest of Flagstaff

PHOENIX — Arizona public utility Salt River Project announced Wednesday the company’s largest solar plant in the state will be developed northwest of Flagstaff.

Scheduled to be operational by 2024, the solar plant will deliver 400 megawatts of renewable energy to SRP customers, according to a press release.

Developer Clēnera will construct and operate the solar plant known as CO Bar Solar.

“SRP is pleased to partner with Clēnera to add this substantial solar resource as part of our diversified energy mix and power generation strategy to meet the Valley’s growing electricity needs,” Mike Hummel, SRP general manager and CEO, said in the release.

“The CO Bar power plant is an incredible clean energy resource that will support SRP customers and help us take a significant step toward our decarbonization goals.”

The solar plant will be located on 2,400 acres of private land in Coconino County and generate enough power to meet the needs of 80,000 homes, according to the release, while also offsetting one billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

SRP said in the release it plans to reduce carbon intensity from 2005 levels by 65% in 2035 and by 90% in 2050.

Construction is set to begin in 2023 and create 550 construction jobs, with many of those being local.

The new solar plant follows the company last month announcing it plans to add three new solar plants delivering a total of 500 megawatts of renewable energy, with Facebook using most of that for its new data center in Mesa.

SRP, which serves more than one million customers, in the release said the new solar plant northwest of Flagstaff helps the public utility meet its commitment to add 2,025 megawatts of new utility-scale solar resources by 2025.

Follow @KTAR923