A proposed Hidden Valley solar farm of nearly 1,100 acres took a sunny step forward late yesterday. 

That’s when the Pinal County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a “major comprehensive plan amendment” for Hidden Valley Ranch Partners to continue with the county planning process leading to solar facility construction.

The supervisors’ approval changes the land use allowed on the acreage from low-density residential to green energy production. 

The project must now go through the planning and zoning process before it reaches construction projected in 2026. 

The solar farm would ultimately generate enough clean energy to power 95,000 homes and is expected to employ about 450 people to build it. Once operational, the facility could employ up to five full-time positions. 

The Copia Power project is estimated to invest about $500 million in construction of the 200-megawatt solar generation facility. It would include a battery energy storage system. 

The Pinal County Planning and Zoning Commission recently approved the amendment 7-0 before passing the proposal to the supervisors. 

Some county planners mentioned concerns regarding protected species in the area, but there was no specific discussion about them other than they could be addressed in the future. 

Jordan A. Rose, an attorney with Rose Law Group in Scottsdale who represents Copia Power, the company that will own and operate the green-energy facility, said the project is in the vicinity of Hidden Valley and Val Vista Roads works for the location. Rose said the proposed site is bounded by the Ak-Chin Indian Community on two sides and the Nissan proving ground on one side.

“This is really the perfect place for a solar facility,” Rose told the supervisors. 

“We are just so happy,” Rose said, adding that she has never had a development case in the past 25 years in which Thunderbird Farms residents have come out in favor of a project. 

Landowner Chase Emmerson agreed with Rose, telling the supervisors, “We think this is great location for the project.” 

Emmerson said the property is now leased to a farmer. 

The proposal was among three other solar generation plants proposed in Eloy, Arizona City and the county seat of Florence, where the supervisors are based. 

The Hidden Valley project’s biggest opponent is the City of Maricopa. 

City planners said Pinal County supervisors approved the Hidden Valley Planned Area Development in 2008, proposing the land for development of 3,874 single-family homes on 821 acres, two elementary school sites, 34 acres of commercial and office space, 75 acres of roadways and 210 acres for open space and recreation.  

The planners said they do not want to see this plan change course. They said the proposed changes were “not in conformance with the City of Maricopa’s current designations” for master-planned community and commercial land use.  

The city said: “The change in land use would not result in an increase in housing stock in the Maricopa planning area and would not advance any significant infrastructure needs in the immediate surrounding area. Furthermore, the proposed land use change will not bring an abundance of long-term jobs to the area.”  

The city said the proposed solar farm development “would cannibalize what minimal commercial and employment land use opportunities that are proposed in the area.”