Solar + Battery Energy Storage in Arizona

At AES, safety is our highest priority, and we’ve focused on improving lives for more than 40 years. As a leading innovator in energy solutions, sustainability is core to both our strategy and our culture. We are committed to responsible land use and incorporating sustainable best practices into the entire project lifecycle, contributing to building a domestic circular renewables economy and reducing foreign dependence.

The Applicant has conducted the surveys required by the Section 94-c process and the previous Article 10 process to assess potential environmental and community impacts, as well as aesthetic and visual impacts to the area surrounding the Facility Site. The Facility will not produce emissions of air or water pollution, no odors, and minimal noise. and will have a low profile relative to other types of development. Additionally, the Applicant intends to minimize impacts to community character through strategically placing fencing, vegetative screening, landscape strategies, maximizing setbacks from residential uses, and avoiding sensitive resources. Impacts related to the construction and operation of the Facility are limited to:

• Temporary and minor permanent impacts to agricultural land (pasture and row crops), forested land, and successional shrubland. Areas that are temporarily impacted will be restored to their original condition following the completion of construction.
• Tree clearing has been limited to 46 acres of the 1,471-acre Facility Site. It is focused in the eastern and western areas for the siting of solar arrays, fencing, haul roads, and inverter pads. By focusing clearing efforts in these areas, fragmentation of forested habitat will be limited and impacts to forestland will not be widespread. In addition, the Applicant will leave existing hedgerows and vegetative barriers where possible.
• The Applicant will work with the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) regarding mitigation to State-jurisdictional wetlands for unavoidable impacts of 0.03 acres. A wetland mitigation and restoration plan will be developed in accordance with Section 900-2.15(g) of the 94-c regulations.
• There are no impacts to State-protected streams as part of the construction and operation of the Facility. All Facility components will be sited more than 50 feet from State-protected waterbodies.
• The Applicant has developed a net conservation benefit plan (NCBP) for the short-eared owl, northern harrier, and Henslow’s sparrow involving Applicant-implemented grassland bird habitat conservation.
• Traffic-related impacts associated with the Facility will be minor during the site preparation and construction phases when there may be a temporary increase in vehicle traffic on area roadways. Once operational, the workforce will not affect traffic around the Facility Site and will have no impacts on adjacent roadways.
• Noise and vibrational modeling has been conducted to confirm that impacts resulting from the construction and operation of the Facility will not exceed the design goals listed within the regulations of Section 94-c of the New York State Executive Law. Adverse noise impacts have been avoided or minimized through careful siting of Facility components.
• There is minimal expected visibility of the Facility within the two-mile visual study area. In accordance with USC §900-6.4 (l), the Applicant will implement the Visual Impacts Minimization and Mitigation Plan, including visual contrast minimization and mitigation measures, a lighting plan, solar glare mitigation requirements, and screen planting plans.

At AES, we understand that our success as a company is only as strong as our partnerships with the communities where we operate. That’s why we partner with communities, customers, state agencies, higher education, elected officials, and other key stakeholders to see how we can best work together to support sustainable social and economic development.