BrightNight and Cordelio Power have officially inaugurated the Box Canyon solar plant in Pinal County, Arizona, with a capacity of 300 megawatts. This project has drawn substantial investments from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Capital One, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. The economic study by Elliott Pollack and Associates estimates that the construction phase alone generated $47 million in direct economic impacts for Pinal County and created over 300 jobs.
The Box Canyon project is notable for being the largest renewable energy acquisition in history by the Southwest Public Power Agency (SPPA). It also represents the first operational asset from a 2.5-gigawatt energy portfolio that BrightNight and Cordelio Power share in Arizona.
Located approximately ten kilometers north of Florence, the facility is expected to produce more than 915,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, addressing the growing energy needs of a region experiencing rapid industrial and technological expansion. According to Dennis Delaney, SPPA Project Manager, the project met its budget and timeline goals, contributing to a more stable electricity supply in the area.
The economic benefits don’t stop at job creation. Over the operational life of the plant, additional local economic contributions are projected to reach $134 million, bringing the total to over $180 million. Additionally, the facility will generate about $65 million in land lease payments to the Arizona Land Trust, which will support education and healthcare sectors in the state.
BrightNight’s CEO, Martin Hermann, highlighted the rapid development of the Box Canyon project, completed in just fifteen months. This achievement illustrates the integration of large-scale renewable energy solutions in regions with accelerating industrial growth. Furthermore, the project includes a scholarship program aimed at funding the education of 50 students enrolled in Central Arizona College’s electrician program over five years, reinforcing its commitment to community development.
Overall, the Box Canyon solar plant not only contributes to the renewable energy landscape in Arizona but also stimulates the local economy and supports education initiatives, showcasing the multifaceted impact of large-scale solar projects.
