The Silver Reef Solar and Battery Project was withdrawn by its applicant before the Pinal County Board of Supervisors could make a final decision. The withdrawal came after the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 8-0 to recommend denial in October. The Board approved four other energy and data center projects at the same November 19 meeting where the withdrawal was announced.
Sangeeta Deokar, Pinal County Planning Supervisor, announced the cancellation during the Board of Supervisors meeting. “We had received these six major comprehensive plan amendments,” Deokar said. “The ones which are striked out, number 10 and 12, were kind of withdrawn by the applicant themselves.”
| Project Number | Project Name | Components | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PZ-PA-010-25 | Silver King | Solar, BESS | Withdrawn |
| PZ-PA-011-25 | La Osa | Data Center, Gas fired power | Approved |
| PZ-PA-012-25 | Silver Reef | Solar, BESS | Withdrawn |
| PZ-PA-013-25 | Project Midway | Data Center | Approved |
| PZ-PA-014-25 | Griffin Energy | Solar, BESS, Gas fired power | Approved |
| PZ-PA-015-25 | Energy Generation & Technology Campus | Data Center, BESS | Approved |
Number 12 referred to the Silver Reef Solar project (PZ-PA-012-25). Number 10 was the Silver King Solar project (PZ-PA-010-25), which was also withdrawn. The Board voted on four remaining projects at the same meeting: La Osa Project, Project Midway, Griffin Energy, and the Energy Generation and Technology Campus. All four passed.
The Proposed Silver Reef Project
The Silver Reef Energy Solar and Storage Project sought to redesignate 801 acres from Very Low Density Residential to Green Energy Production. The facility would have included 150 megawatts of solar power and 200 megawatts of battery storage.
The site sits 6.5 miles southwest of Casa Grande, south of Interstate 8 in unincorporated Pinal County. The property lies on what was once the Williams Field Bomb Target Range #12, which operated from 1942 to 1946 during World War II.
Part of I-8 Energy Corridor Expansion
Silver Reef was one of multiple major energy projects planned along the I-8 corridor.
Other projects in the area include Griffin Energy Project (2,686 acres), Project Midway (215 acres for data center development), Bella Energy (352 acres with battery storage and natural gas), and Table Top Solar (643 acres). The concentration of these facilities is transforming the I-8 corridor between Casa Grande and Maricopa into a hub for industrial development.
Why the Project Faced Opposition
The Silver Reef withdrawal followed strong opposition from county advisory bodies. The Citizens Advisory Committee voted 14-1 to recommend denial at their September 4 meeting. The Planning and Zoning Commission then voted 8-0 to recommend denial on October 16.
During work sessions and discussions leading up to the vote, concerns were raised. These included insufficient technical details, fire safety, visual impacts, and the project’s irregular zigzag configuration. Commissioner Gary Pranzo highlighted a disparity in solar capacity. Pinal County accounts for over 30% of Arizona’s built solar capacity while other counties average 10%.
Residents raised concerns about flooding, impacts on rural character, and whether local residents would benefit from the generated power.
Board Approves Four Energy and Data Center Projects
The table below provides details on the energy and data center projects recently reviewed by the Board.
| Project Name | Status | Total Acreage | Project Type | Solar Capacity | Battery Storage | Natural Gas Generation | Power Demand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver King | Withdrawn | 12,915 | Solar, Battery | Up to 1100 MW | Up to 1100 MW | — | — |
| La Osa | Approved | 3,385 | Data Center, Gas Power | — | — | TBD | — |
| Silver Reef | Withdrawn | 801 | Solar, Battery | 150 MW | 200 MW | — | — |
| Project Bella | Approved | 352 | Gas, Battery | 400-440 MW | 480-520 MW | — | |
| Project Midway | Approved | 215 | Data Center | — | — | — | Requires 225 MW |
| Griffin Energy | Approved | 2,686 | Solar, Battery, Gas | Up to 550 MW | Up to 550 MW | Up to 500 MW | — |
| Energy Generation & Technology Campus | Approved | 495 | Data Center, Gas, Battery | — | TBD | TBD | — |
Note on “Approved” Status: Approval by the Board of Supervisors does not mean these projects have completed all necessary stages for development. Each project must still complete additional approval stages before construction can begin.
