ED3 joins partnership for renewable energy from massive solar project

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ED3 lineman
A Electrical District No. 3 lineman works on a pole. The utility has entered an agreement to receive solar power. [Photo courtesy of ED3]

Electrical District No. 3 has entered a partnership with Southwest Public Power Agency and its members on a 300-megawatt, utility-scale solar project that will supply 21 of SPPA’s members, including ED3, with renewable energy.

BrightNight will partner with Cordelio Power on the joint venture Box Canyon project, with BrightNight serving as lead developer. The group has entered into a long-term power-purchase agreement with SPPA.

ED3 will be an off taker of a portion of the project, which is the largest renewable-power purchase in ED3’s history. The project will begin operation in 2025.

“The Box Canyon project . . . will help us meet the long-term needs of our growing customer base,” said ED3 General Manager Brian Yerges. “Based on current growth trends, the Box Canyon project will supply approximately 20% of ED3’s power in 2025-2026.”

ED3 will receive 63.4 megawatts of the solar output from the joint venture located in Pinal County. The project will connect into the electrical grid at SRP’s Abel Substation via a transmission tie line and serve local utilities in Arizona.

The project site is on approximately 2,300 acres of unincorporated state land 9 miles north of Florence on the west side of State Route 79. The Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved a change in land-use designation to green-energy production to allow the solar-facility.

“SPPA is proud to supply its members with safe, reliable and affordable electricity from an industry-leading renewable power project,” said SPPA project manager Dennis Delaney. “BrightNight was able to understand our long-term goals and propose a solution to meet the needs of our members and their customers, while remaining cost-effective.”

SPPA is a joint action agency representing Arizona utilities, including irrigation and water districts, electrical districts and tribal utilities.