News Release: Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) and Public Power Utilities Join Together on Apache Solar Project 294 MWdc, Battery Storage Facility, up to 940 MWh
For Immediate Release
October 10 2023
Contact: Chris Jimenez cjimenez@azgt.coop
Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO), a not-for-profit, member-owned electric generation and transmission cooperative headquartered southeast of Tucson, has received board approval to enter into an agreement with Roadrunner Solar LLC and Roadrunner Storage LLC, affiliates of Clēnera LLC, an Enlight Company (“Enlight”, NASDAQ: ENLT, TASE: ENLT.TA), to develop a new solar project, with a nameplate capacity of up to 294 MWdc, and battery storage facility, with a nameplate capacity of up to 940 MWh, at the Apache Station in Cochise County.
Also known as the Apache Solar II project, it will be AEPCO’s largest renewable project developed for the benefit of its rural electric distribution cooperative and public power members, and it will provide enough energy to power approximately 54,000 homes.
"We're excited to add this cost-effective renewable generation to our portfolio," said Patrick Ledger, AEPCO executive vice president and CEO. “As a not-for-profit cooperative, we work with our member-owners and their boards and managers to ensure that investments in new resources are prudently made. Our objective is to provide affordable and reliable power, not to make a profit. The Apache Solar II project demonstrates the advantage of smaller utilities coming together on a larger project, to take advantage of economies of scale and substantially reduced costs for all participants and their electric consumers at the end of the line,” Ledger said.
“Our electric cooperative and public utility members serve several disadvantaged communities in the state, so we also hope to take advantage of direct-pay tax incentives, as well as new federal grants under the Rural Utilities Services New ERA grants program, that could help further decrease the cost of the project, providing a truly competitive source of carbon-free power for the first time.”
In addition to solar power, AEPCO’s Apache Solar II will also provide each participating cooperative and utility member the ability to store solar energy in a 4-hour battery energy storage system with flexibility to dispatch the batteries to meet the unique needs of each member. The Apache Solar II project is completing siting, design and permitting over the next several months. The project could be operational as soon as the summer of 2025. The Apache Solar II project has previously been referred to by Clēnera as the Roadrunner project.
***
Arizona Electric Power Cooperative Inc. is the generation, transmission, and energy services provider for electric distribution cooperatives and public utilities in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Headquartered in Benson, Arizona, AEPCO operates with its sister organization, Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services, under the umbrella of Arizona G&T Cooperatives. Learn more at azgt.coop.
Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. - Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 670 - 1000 S. Highway 80 - Benson, Arizona 85602 - (520) 586-5000 Phone - www.azgt.coop