Proving Ground Solar+Storage Project
This website provides information and updates on the development of Proving Ground Solar+Storage Project in Yuma County, Arizona.
Project Summary
Proving Ground Solar+Storage Project is a renewable energy development planned for construction in Yuma County, Arizona, approximately 10 miles north of Dateland. The project involves a 250-megawatt (250MW) solar photovoltaic generating facility with battery storage, an approximately 6-mile-long double circuit 69‑kilovolt (69kV) generation intertie transmission line (gen-tie), a step-up substation, and a 500-kilovolt (500kV) interconnection transmission line (interconnection line) from the step-up substation to the Hoodoo Wash Switchyard (collectively the project). The interconnection line will be an approximately 3,000-foot-long, 500kV transmission line. The solar +storage facility will be located on approximately 2,050 acres of privately owned land, the gen-tie will be located on right-of-way (ROW) from the Arizona State Land Department and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the step-up substation and interconnection line will be on ROW from the BLM and across privately owned land. The project and interconnection facilities will be located north of Palomas Road, in unincorporated Yuma County. The presentation, linked below, and following sections provide additional information about the project and how to reach the project team. In Q2 2022, Arizona Public Service Company (APS) entered into an agreement to acquire the project from its original developer, Strata Clean Energy (Strata). APS is the applicant for and will be the owner of the Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC); however, Strata is siting the project on behalf of APS.
Information about the project is also available on the APS website at: aps.com/provingground
Project Overview Presentation
Project Map
Click on map to enlarge.
Certificate of Environmental Compatibility
A Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) from the Arizona Corporation Commission and Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee is required to allow for construction and operation of the 500kV interconnection line.
Arizona Public Service Company (APS) filed an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC Application) with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) requesting approval to construct the Interconnection Project; the Interconnection Project is docketed as L00000D-23-0011-00214. The Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee (Line Siting Committee) has scheduled a public hearing on the CEC application. During the public hearings, the Line Siting Committee will consider the CEC application, deliberate, and make a recommendation to the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Public hearings for the Project will start on February 13, 2023, at 1 PM, and will continue as necessary through February 15, 2023, commencing at 9 AM each day. The public is invited to attend hearings in-person, online, or via telephone. Hearings will be held at the Yuma Four Points by Sheraton, located at 2030 S. Avenue 3E, Yuma, AZ 85365.
At least 24 hours in advance of the hearing, information including virtual participation links and phone numbers, public health protocols, and any revisions to the hearing schedule will be posted on this webpage. Revisions to the hearing schedule will also be noticed on the ACC website (azcc.gov/arizona-power-plant/meeting-schedule). If the Committee conducts a tour, the route tour and a map will be posted here and on ACC website. Members of the public may follow the Committee on the tour.
The Committee will hear public comment on February 13, 2023, beginning at 5:30 PM; public comment may be delivered in-person at the Yuma Four Points by Sheraton, virtually, or via telephone. The Committee Chairman may, at his discretion, allow additional public comment at other times during the hearing.
We welcome your input and questions. Comments and questions may be submitted directly through this website (see below), emailed to ProvingGroundSolar@swca.com, left as a voicemail at 928-202-4621, or mailed to Collin Ramsey, Strata Clean Energy, LLC, 800 Taylor St., Suite 200 Durham, NC 27701. The project team will promptly return your correspondence. We look forward to hearing from you.
The CEC Application, and additional documents and links related to the public hearing, are available below.
Review the pre-filing conference transcripts
Review the Notice of Public Hearing
Review the Hearing Agenda
Review the Chairman’s Procedural Order
Review the Prehearing Exhibits 1-3
Review the Prehearing Conference Exhibits
Zoom links, telephone dial-in information, and live stream links for the CEC hearings are available below:
CEC Hearings
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Live Stream of Proving Ground CEC Hearing
Feb. 13, 2023, 1:00 PM
Vimeo link to view a live stream of the Proving Ground CEC hearing
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View/Participate in Public Comment Period
Feb. 13, 2023, 5:30 PM Arizona time
Topic: STRATA Clean Energy CEC Hearing - Public Comment
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84004589460Meeting ID: 840 0458 9460
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Live stream of CEC Public Comment Period
Feb. 13, 2023, 5:30 PM Arizona time
Vimeo link to view a live stream of the Proving Ground CEC public comment period
Related Documents
Certificado de Compatibilidad Ambiental
El campo de pruebas del proyecto de Línea de Transmisión de 500kV involucra una línea de transmisión de aproximadamente 0.6millas de largo y 500 kilovoltios (kV) que conectará el campo de prueba solar + el almacenamiento de la red eléctrica regional. El proyecto estará ubicado en el lado norte de la calle de las Palomas, aproximadamente a 10 millas al norte de Dateland Arizona.
La Compañía de Servicios Públicos de Arizona (APS) presentó una solicitud para el Certificado de Compatibilidad Ambiental (Solicitud CEC) ante la Comisión de Corporación de Arizona solicitando la aprobación para construir el Proyecto. El Comité de Plantas de Energía y Ubicación de Líneas de Transmisión de Arizona (Comité de Ubicación de Líneas) mantendrá audiencias públicas para considerar la solicitud CEC, deliberarla y hacer una recomendación a la Comisión de Corporación de Arizona.
Las audiencias públicas para el Proyecto comenzarán el 13 de febrero del 2023 a la 1pm y continuarán según sea necesario hasta el 15 de febrero del 2023, a partir de las 9am cada día. El público está invitado a atender en persona, en línea o vía telefónica. Las audiencias se llevarán a cabo en Yuma Four Points del Sheraton, ubicado en 2030 S. Avenida 3E, Yuma, Arizona 85365.
La información acerca de la audiencia, incluyendo los enlaces de participación virtual, los números telefónicos a marcar, los protocolos de salud pública y cualquier revisión del horario de audiencias, se publicará al menos 24 horas antes de ella en el sitio web del Proyecto en este sitio web. Las revisiones del calendario de audiencias se publicarán también en el sitio web de ACC (azcc.gov/arizona-power-plant/meeting-schedule en Inglés). Si el Comité realiza un recorrido, su ruta y el mapa se publicarán en los sitios web del Proyecto y del ACC. Los miembros del público pueden seguir al Comité en este recorrido.
El Comité escuchará los comentarios del público el 13 de febrero del 2023, a partir de las 5:30 PM. Los comentarios públicos pueden entregarse en persona en el hotel Yuma Four Points del Sheraton, virtualmente o por teléfono. El presidente del Comité, a su discreción, podrá permitir comentarios públicos adicionales en otros momentos durante la audiencia
Si usted necesita apoyo adicional, por favor envié un correo electrónico al equipo del proyecto al ProvingGroundSolar@swca.com o llame y deje un mensaje de voz al: 928-202-4621.
Project Status
In 2018, the Yuma County Board of Supervisors approved a Special Use permit to allow construction and operation of the project in conformance with the Yuma County Zoning Ordinance. A portion of the gen-tie, the step-up substation, and a portion of the interconnection line will be located on rights-of-way obtained from the Arizona State Land Department, across Arizona State Trust land, and from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Strata is currently working with the BLM to amend its existing right-of-way grant to match the final design of the 500kV interconnection line, step-up substation, and associated improvements on BLM-managed lands. Updates and new information will be made available on this website.
Ongoing Public Involvement
As part of the public outreach process for the project, Strata held an open house meeting at the Dateland Elementary School in December 2021 to present information about the project, answer questions, and receive comments.
We welcome feedback for this project. Comments and questions may be submitted electronically by scrolling down to the bottom of this page or written and mailed to Colin Ramsey, Strata Clean Energy, 800 Taylor St., Suite 200 Durham, NC 27701. Alternatively, the Strata team will promptly reply to questions or comments emailed to ProvingGroundSolar@swca.com or left by voicemail at (928) 202-4621.
Timeline for Completion
As noted above, the CEC hearings will occur in mid-February, 2023; the ACC meeting to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the CEC is anticipated to occur in March or April, 2023. Information about the hearing venue and times will be posted on this website as it is available. Construction for the Proving Ground Solar+Storage Project is planned to start in Spring 2023.
Project Benefits
Employment and business opportunities
Local and state tax revenues
Increased availability of renewable energy
Site Selection Factors
Strata completed an extensive site selection process to choose this location for the Proving Ground Solar+Storage Project. This evaluation ensured that the site would be suitable for the proposed renewable energy development. Some of the factors in the evaluation included:
Solar Resource – High solar insolation to ensure that the project will generate the highest amount of energy using the least amount of land possible
Portions of the proposed gen-tie line and interconnection line would be located within the BLM designated utility corridor and adjacent to other existing electric utility lines, including the existing 500kV HANG#2
Slope – Relatively flat to minimize ground disturbance required for grading
Infrastructure – Located in an area with existing utilities, including the Hoodoo Wash Switchyard, HANG#2, and the Aqua Caliente Solar Project
Environmental Considerations – Conducting studies to avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive resources
Interconnection Line Visual Simulations
Strata carefully considered the potential visual impacts in siting the proposed step-up substation and interconnection line. Co-locating a portion of the interconnection line on transmission structures with HANG#2 will help consolidate energy infrastructure and minimize visual impacts overall. Strata prepared visual simulations showing existing and proposed conditions, from two perspectives on Palmas Road, shown below.