Arizona public power utility Salt River Project on April 30 announced an agreement with NextEra Energy Resources to develop 3,000 megawatts of new solar generation by the end of 2034.
The solar development agreement will support SRP’s plan to more than double the capacity of its power system by 2035 while maintaining reliability and affordability and making continued progress toward its sustainability goals, SRP said.
SRP’s plan includes the addition of thousands of megawatts of renewable energy, including solar, as well as natural gas and battery energy storage resources.
The agreement calls for the construction of 500 MW of solar per year from 2029 through 2034. "The projects developed under this agreement will deliver low-cost energy for SRP customers and create long-term community benefits across Arizona," SRP said.
“We look forward to working with NextEra Energy Resources to add the magnitude of new solar energy we need at the pace required to meet the increasing energy demand of our customers,” said Bobby Olsen, SRP Associate General Manager and Chief Power System Executive. “This approach will allow us to collaborate early in the project development process to minimize project risk and ensure the best outcomes for our customers and the communities where we operate.”
NextEra Energy Resources has already developed more than 1,000 MW of resources across five projects currently serving SRP customers including Sonoran Solar Energy Center, Storey Energy Center, Saint Solar Energy Center, Pinal Central Energy Center and Babbitt Ranch Energy Center.
“As America’s largest energy infrastructure builder, we are uniquely positioned to meet SRP’s needs,” said Brian Bolster, NextEra Energy Resources President and CEO. “We are excited to continue building on our long-standing relationship with SRP and to continue to invest in Arizona to help power the state’s growth with low-cost solar power.”
NextEra Energy Resources was selected through an SRP Request for Proposals issued in 2024.
The solar development agreement will complement SRP’s existing procurement and self-build processes. It does not replace SRP’s All-Source Request for Proposals process.
SRP has more than 3,000 MW of carbon-free resources currently serving its customers, including more than 1,500 MW of solar and more than 1,570 MW of battery storage supporting its grid.
SRP also has more solar energy and storage capacity under development.
