Key Points:
- Board of Supervisors approved the 643-acre project 4-1 on December 10
- 96 megawatts of solar generation; battery storage capacity not specified
- Developer EDP Renewables hopes to begin construction by 2027, pending APS grid interconnection. The company has not yet secured a power purchase agreement.
- Anticipated to generate $40 million in tax revenue over 30 years, according to the applicant
- Located at Bianco and Cornman Roads, north of I-8, approximately three miles from Casa Grande city limits
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved the Table Top Solar Park on December 10, 2025. The 643-acre solar and battery storage facility near Casa Grande received approval by a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Jeff Serdy casting the lone dissent. The developer hopes to begin construction by 2027, though that timeline depends on completing utility negotiations and securing a power purchase agreement—neither of which is finalized.
What the Approval Means for the Area
The Table Top Solar Park is anticipated to generate approximately $40 million in tax revenue over its 30-year lifespan. According to the applicant, these funds would benefit Pinal County, Casa Grande elementary and high school districts, and Central Arizona Community College. Additionally, the project will create about 200 construction jobs over a 12 to 18-month period. Five permanent positions will support ongoing operations.
The project was formerly known as the Casa Grande Carmel Solar Park. EDP Renewables North America changed the name to reflect the local geography. Table Top Mountain, within the 34,400-acre Table Top Wilderness, is a familiar landmark visible from Phoenix and Casa Grande. The company has operated in Arizona for years, including a solar project in Maricopa County and facilities in Coolidge.
Project Timeline and Utility Discussions
Attorney Andrew Yancey, representing EDP Renewables, told supervisors the company hopes to begin construction by 2027. “The hope would be that shovels would be in the ground by 2027,” he said. However, he acknowledged the utility approval process could affect timing.
Vice Chairman Jeff McClure asked about discussions with electrical companies. Yancey confirmed EDP has submitted for APS’s queue study process but that it remains incomplete. “Hopefully within the next year, hopefully less,” he estimated when asked about a completion timeline.
Chairman Stephen Miller pressed further with a direct question: “With or without a contract with any electric provider, will you still build this project?”
Yancey explained the company’s position. “It’s my understanding you want a contract for a buyer before you build the project,” he said. He noted EDP has already invested “hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars” in development.
This uncertainty echoes concerns raised about other nearby projects. The Project Midway Data Center received comprehensive plan approval in November without a power contract or completed load impact study with ED3. In contrast, the Griffin Energy Project on the I-8 corridor has a defined customer relationship with its associated data center campus near Maricopa.
Site Location Along the I-8 Corridor
The Table Top Solar Park sits at Bianco and Cornman Roads in the southwest Casa Grande area. The site lies north of Interstate 8, approximately three miles from the city’s municipal boundary.
Developers selected this location for several strategic reasons.
“It’s flat land, it’s near the transmission infrastructure, it’s also near some other recently approved energy projects,” Yancey explained.
He emphasized the site’s remoteness. “The site is remote. It’s vacant desert. There’s no residences within half a mile of this site,” Yancey said.
The property has no water rights and sits outside Casa Grande’s opportunity zones. Adjacent roadways remain unpaved. Yancey said these factors make the site “not well-suited for more traditional development” but appropriate for solar energy production.
The I-8 corridor has become a hub for energy and data center development. Approved projects include Project Bella for natural gas and battery storage, the Project Midway Data Center, and the Griffin Energy Project. The Silver Reef Solar and Battery Project was withdrawn after receiving a denial recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
SRP is also planning the Marigold Energy Center, a facility combining 600 megawatts of solar, up to 675 megawatts of natural gas, and 400 megawatts of battery storage near Stanfield. However, SRP owns land stretching from the I-8 corridor north toward Maricopa, so the exact project location remains unclear. That project is still pending approval.
The corridor also supports broader industrial growth. Yancey noted the site sits “within a few miles of Casa Grande’s industrial hub,” including Lucid Motors, Cemex, and Tractor Supply. Casa Grande recently annexed 1,271 acres near Lucid Motors for industrial development.
Table Top Solar Park and Casa Grande Relations
The project falls within Casa Grande’s planning area. The city’s General Plan designates the land as Manufacturing and Business. Staff confirmed Casa Grande has no objections to the solar facility.
Former Mayor Craig McFarland wrote a letter supporting the project in 2023. Yancey also stated the company received a support letter from current Mayor Lisa Fitzgibbons Navarro. McFarland wrote that he welcomes the “$150 million capital investment” and its benefits to the local tax base.
What the Facility Will Include
The Table Top Solar Park will consist of photovoltaic panels generating up to 96 megawatts. A Battery Energy Storage System is also planned, though its capacity has not been specified. The project includes a substation and generation tie transmission line connecting to an APS substation on Thornton Road, approximately three miles northeast. The facility will use minimal water compared to other industrial uses.
Buffer Zones and Wall Requirements
The project includes a 50-foot industrial buffer on all four sides.
A six-foot concrete masonry unit wall will separate the facility from residential-zoned land (CR-2) to the west and southwest that has remained undeveloped since the 1970s. The wall spans approximately 1.5 miles along the property boundary.
Supervisor Rich Vitiello asked about panel height relative to the wall. “When the panels are at full extension, how high would they be?” he inquired.
Yancey explained the panels track with the sun throughout the day. “The max they can get to is 15 feet,” he said. “Most of the time, they are lower than that.”
Vitiello followed up: “So, an eight-foot wall could be possible?”
Yancey confirmed this remains an option. The panels sit further back from the wall due to setback requirements.
Native Vegetation and Landscaping Approach
Yancey addressed how developers will handle native desert plants. The natural vegetation in the area consists primarily of creosote bushes and mesquite trees.
“What we have worked through is we would re-vegetate with those particular plant species,” Yancey explained. He noted plants would be clustered “to look more like the desert environment” rather than evenly spaced.
Decommissioning Plans in Development
Supervisor Vitiello asked about end-of-life planning for the facility. Yancey confirmed EDP is developing a decommissioning plan with Helix Environmental, a third-party engineering company.
“We have a mostly completed draft now,” Yancey said. “Of course, the closer we get to construction, the more we know about things like procurement and things like that.”
The company has committed to sharing the plan with county staff at the appropriate time during the site plan review process.
Fire Service Arrangements
Rural Metro Fire will provide emergency services for the Table Top Solar Park. Yancey stated Rural Metro visited the site in 2023 during the comprehensive plan amendment process. The company will continue training coordination throughout the project.
EDP brought James Caulfield, Senior Fire Protection Consultant with Fire & Risk Alliance, to the hearing. Caulfield has previously presented battery storage safety information to the Board of Supervisors in November. Epic Star Energy brought him to that presentation at the request of Supervisor Vitiello.
Developer’s Local Ties
EDP maintains membership in Pinal Partnership and several local chambers of commerce.
The company also sponsors 4-H groups and Future Farmers of America programs. Yancey emphasized EDP’s commitment to being “good partners in the community.”
Public Response and Opposition
No public speakers opposed the project during the December 10 hearing. One person submitted a card indicating opposition but did not speak.
Staff received no letters of opposition at the time the report was written. The applicant’s neighborhood meeting in February 2024 drew four attendees. No comment forms were submitted at that meeting.
The neighborhood meeting was “generally positive, with most individuals that attended being in support of the Project,” according to the Citizen Review Report. One attendee expressed interest in developing their own property for solar elsewhere in Arizona.
Previous Approvals and Voting History
The Table Top Solar Park cleared multiple hurdles before reaching the Board of Supervisors. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 9-0 in May 2025. In November 2023, both the Commission and Board unanimously approved the comprehensive plan amendment changing the land use designation to Green Energy Production.
The December 10 vote approved two separate items. Item 14 covered the rezoning from General Rural to Industrial I-3 with one stipulation. Item 15 approved the Planned Area Development (PAD) overlay with 11 stipulations. The PAD sets custom development standards and restricts uses to solar energy production, battery storage, and related infrastructure. Both passed 4-1.
Chairman Miller, Vice Chairman McClure, Supervisor Goodman, and Supervisor Vitiello voted yes on both items. Supervisor Serdy voted no on both.
What Happens Next
The project now moves to formal site plan review. Developers must submit detailed plans addressing circulation, life-safety requirements, and final drainage analysis. The County Engineer will review traffic impact statements and infrastructure requirements.
EDP must complete negotiations with APS for grid interconnection. The utility’s queue study process will determine when and how the facility connects to the power grid. Construction cannot begin until all permits and approvals are secured.
So when is the Destruction of pinal coun tys desert flora and fauna going to stop? Our Supervisors are owned snd bankrolled by Companies and develoPers that can override what the residents want. And because they are big citifid crooks, they are rolling Right over us , backed by a lawfirm that shares ownership Of OUR county! Those solar co are crooked -3 other cCounties wized up and stopped these liars and environmental destroyers. When are our $$ grabbing supervisors going to listen to the people who elected them?! Recall-and get some concerned and educated people in office and can those who dont give a damn about your wants and needs and HEALTH!