Solar Power Plant Planned For Cochise County

By Claire Caulfield
Published: Wednesday, September 23, 2015 - 9:27am
Updated: Friday, September 25, 2015 - 7:39am

Cochise County is getting a 20-megawatt solar power plant.

Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative and Sun Power said this project will meet 95 percent of their renewable energy goal set by the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Jack Blair, with Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, said the solar power plant also offers economic benefits.

“The price that we could get the electricity from solar was competitive with other sources of power. So our goal and what our members want is reliable electricity at the lowest possible price and this allowed us to do that,” Blair said.

The plant is expected to power about 4,500 homes in the small community of Cochise. The construction is expected to bring about 125 jobs to Cochise County and will be operational in 2016 said Blair.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been modifid to reflect the solar power plant will be 20 megawatts in size.

Updated 9/25/2015 at 7:39 a.m.