Box Canyon Solar Project Powers Up: A New Era of Renewable Energy

The Box Canyon Solar Project, a new 300-megawatt solar facility near Florence, began producing electricity today, June 2, 2025.

According to Electric District No. 3 (ED3), the plant is already supplying 63.5 megawatts of power. This marks ED3’s first utility-scale solar project, part of a strategic initiative to add 100 megawatts of renewable energy by their centennial next year.

“Box Canyon Solar signifies our commitment to renewable energy,” said Leslie O’Hare, a digital content specialist with ED3. “Along with Apache Solar II, we are on track to enhance our renewable capacity by 100 megawatts by 2026.”

Developed by BrightNight and Cordelio Power, Box Canyon aims to provide clean energy to 25 utilities under the Southwest Public Power Agency, ultimately benefiting more than 77,000 homes in Arizona. ED3 is expected to generate around 185,000 megawatt-hours annually, sufficient for powering 16,000 homes in Maricopa.

The annual output of 900,000 megawatt-hours is projected to offset more than 640,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and conserve approximately 260 million gallons of water each year, according to developers.

O’Hare noted that the project will address the rising energy demands in the rapidly expanding Maricopa area. Moreover, solar energy serves as a cost-effective alternative to the fluctuating natural gas market. However, it’s essential to mention that this project does not include features for grid stabilization or energy storage.

This energy milestone coincides with Pinal County’s growing role in Arizona’s electric vehicle (EV) landscape. As the region attracts manufacturing initiatives like Lucid Motors and a forthcoming multibillion-dollar EV battery plant, workforce training programs are also evolving, including a new electric vehicle technology initiative from the Maricopa Unified School District.

Despite increasing EV ownership—with over 800 registered EVs in Maricopa—public charging infrastructure remains limited. The city currently has only six charging ports for a population of over 12,000 residents per port. Furthermore, many existing chargers are either inoperable or obstructed by gas-powered vehicles.

Although the Arizona Department of Transportation announced plans for high-speed charging stations along State Route 347 this year, these initiatives were halted by the Federal Highway Administration in February.

Looking ahead, ED3 is preparing for the launch of its next solar investment later this year. The Apache Solar II project, currently under construction in Cochise County, will include a 38-megawatt output and ED3’s first utility-scale battery storage system, capable of holding 153 megawatt-hours of energy.

The Box Canyon project is also expected to stimulate the local economy, projected to generate $43 million in tax revenue over 40 years and support over $134 million in economic activity.

Meanwhile, the Rainbow Valley Energy and Prism Technologies solar projects along Fulcar Road faced considerable opposition from local residents in May. Another 1,100-acre solar project has been approved near Hidden Valley, scheduled to begin operations in 2029.