Capital Power Investments, LLC proposes to construct the Sun Valley Energy Center (SVEC) – consisting of north, central, and south components. The SVEC is an electricity generating facility using solar photovoltaic (PV) technology and may include gas technology.

Capital Power is completing field and permitting activities for Sun Valley North (SVN). Burns and McDonnell Engineering Co. and Tierra Environmental Consultants are providing support to obtain Special Use Permits (SUP) for SVN.

The SVN Project would be located in an area generally bound by Interstate 10 to the north, the 483rd Avenue alignment to the west, Salome Highway and Indian School Road to the south, and the 459th Avenue alignment to the east.

SVN is divided into two units – Unit 1 and Unit 2, each of which will have a separate Special Use Permit application and each constructed in approximately four phases, depending on the market for solar energy. At full build-out, SVN will have a nameplate capacity (maximum output) of approximately 330 megawatts (MW), depending on the available technology. 

SVN will comprise approximately 2110 acres. Unit 1 is approximately 640 acres and is expected to have a nameplate capacity of approximately 80 to 100 MW. Unit 2 is approximately 1470 acres and is expected to have a nameplate capacity of approximately 200 to 230 MW.

Sun Valley South (SVS) would be located in an area generally bound by the Thomas Road alignment and a 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line on the north, a 500kV transmission line on the east, Courthouse Road on the south, and the 467th Avenue alignment on the west.

Sun Valley Central (SVC) would connect SVN to SVS and may include a generation facility located adjacent to the southern boundary of SVN. Covering approximately 269 acres, SVC would be located in an area generally bound by Indian School Road to the north, the 467th Avenue alignment to the west, Thomas Road to the south and the 459th Avenue alignment to the east. Salome Highway extends through the southern portion of the proposed SVC development area.

Comprehensive Plan Amendment Process

The major comprehensive plan amendment (CPA) for Sun Valley North was approved with stipulations under Case # CPA2011011 at the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (BOS) hearing on December 14, 2011.

The CPA, which changed the land use designation for the Site from Rural Development Area to Industrial, stipulates that a SUP is required for SVN. As per the Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance (April 2012), the existing on-site zoning (Rural-43) requires a SUP to allow for generation facilities. Therefore, a SUP is requested for Units 1 and Unit 2 to allow the development of a PV solar electricity generating facility.

The Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) has responded positively regarding SVN and the larger Sun Valley Energy Center Project. In June 2011, ASLD granted approval to Capital Power to conduct due diligence surveys as part of the long-term lease application process.

Public Participation Process

Capital Power is committed to fostering healthy communities through engaging stakeholders, promoting sustainability and addressing the needs of the communities in which it operates.

A Citizen Participation Plan identifies Capital Power’s approach for citizen notification and involvement as development of Sun Valley North progresses, and will be submitted in conjunction with the formal application of the SUP’s for Units 1 and 2. The Plan is intended to be flexible and can be modified as needed to support the permitting requirements of SVN.

Statutory Public Hearings will be held as part of the application review processes associated with all SUPs pertaining to Sun Valley North. In addition to meeting the statutory requirements, Capital Power will conduct a citizen participation process to help identify and address issues and concerns that stakeholders may have with the on-going development of SVN (and the entire Sun Valley Energy Center).

By offering an integrated and focused program of community involvement, Capital Power’s consultation programs endeavor to understand local values and support regulatory requirements for permits and approvals, relating to stakeholders. Beyond the immediate goal of involving stakeholders in the regulatory process, Capital Power strives to build awareness of the company and demonstrate its commitment to being a responsible developer and operator of power generation facilities.