Every once in a while we get something right.
Take the planned solar farm way out in Avra Valley back behind the Tucson Mountains. Despite our cloudless skies and sunny days, it would have been really hard to sell ourselves as a solar town if that had gone down in flames.
Can you imagine the conversation county officials and business leaders might have had with other prospective solar companies?
“And this is the site where we almost built a 305-acre solar farm ...”
It would be like a New Yorker cartoon.
Rather than being something that folks chuckle at before turning the page, we’re moving forward with Spain-based Fotowatio Renewable Ventures’ solar farm.
Unless you are a disgruntled neighbor of the solar farm, that’s good news. But the fact that Pima County and the region’s business community stepped up to the plate is probably far more important than the power the 305-acre site will create.
People are also reading…
“It’s vital,” said Mike Varney, the new CEO at Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “It allows Tucson to walk the talk.”
Most Tucsonans will never benefit from, much less see, the solar farm. It will be set about three or four miles west of the Tucson Mountains in Avra Valley, hidden behind a wall and landscaping. It won’t produce many jobs for the long-term. In the big scheme of things it won’t produce much power, either. The site will generate an estimated 50,000 megawatt-hours, or enough juice for 4,500 homes a year.
But it sends a message to the solar industry that Pima County is a place where solar is valued and other projects can happen.
That’s why Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson described the unanimous vote as “a landmark decision by the board.” Bronson feels like the neighbors’ concerns have been addressed — although some neighbors probably don’t see it that way.
There was just too much to lose as far as solar credibility.
“It sends a very positive signal that this community will embrace renewable energy,” said Ron Shoopman, president of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, which facilitated talks to make the deal happen.
Besides, as the fifth-largest solar array in the country, the FRV farm will help Tucson Electric Power meet the state’s renewable energy standard over the next few years. It lays the groundwork for other large-scale solar farms in the area.
Case in point, Tucson Electric is under contract with an even bigger solar array, although a site has not yet been determined. It will almost certainly be in Avra Valley, though.
Given all of these positives, the FRV farm still came close to having its plug filled over concerns about property values, noise and environmental damage. How close?
Well, there was that testy moment back in April when Supervisor Richard Elías asked an FRV honcho if he had kids, and then remarked that the neighbors also have kids.
Bad for business!
An email Shoopman sent out last Sunday to various business stakeholders says the project almost died at that time.
“The continuance granted April 19th was a good idea,” Shoopman wrote. “The project may well have failed had it not been granted. The county deserves credit for that decision.”
The county also deserves credit for the unanimous vote. Tucson’s business community deserve credit for showing that this solar farm mattered.
“We spoke with one voice, and we spoke clearly,” Shoopman said. “I thought it was very effective.”
Where has this voice been in the past?
For years now, Tucson’s business community has been woefully MIA from public affairs, at best mustering up complaints that it’s hard to do business in the city or the county (whatever that means). The Tucson Chamber of Commerce languished under Jack Camper’s leadership, and yet for years that was tolerated. Why?
How many people across Pima County feel like Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities has made our economy and lives better?
Has the business community helped or hurt downtown redevelopment?
But for this one key vote — “a landmark” for solar power in Pima County — the business community showed a strong and unified voice. Now, if they could do that for solar projects that come with jobs instead of just panels (or jobs that make panels), then we would really have something to celebrate.
Contact columnist Josh Brodesky at 573-4242 or jbrodesky@azstarnet.com
U of A president declines to sign shared governance contract with faculty
