Project Overview

1886 Solar Energy Station LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stellar Renewable Power (Stellar), plans to develop the 1886 Solar Energy Station Interconnection Project (Interconnection Project) in Coconino County, Arizona. The Project involves a new, approximately 5-mile-long, 500-kV generation intertie (gen-tie) transmission line that parallels the existing 500-kV Moenkopi to Cedar Mountain Transmission Line. The Interconnection Project would connect Stellar's planned 1886 Solar Energy Station to the regional electric grid at a planned Arizona Public Service (APS) switchyard. The Interconnection Project will have a 250-foot right-of-way. The 1886 Solar Energy Center involves solar/photovoltaic generating facility and battery energy storage system, each with a capacity of up to 500 megawatts (MW). The Interconnection Project would be approximately 30 miles northwest of Flagstaff; the proposed route is shown on the map below.

In June 2022, Coconino County approved conditional use permits (CUP) for a project referred to as CO Bar Solar. In August 2022 Stellar acquired a portion of CO Bar Solar from the original developer; the portion Stellar acquired is referred to as the 1886 Solar Energy Station. The relevant CUP approvals were transferred to Stellar. Prior to starting construction, the Interconnection Project will require other major environmental approvals including a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) from the Arizona Corporation Commission and an environmental assessment (EA) from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBOR). Arizona state law requires a CEC for new transmission lines that operate at 115 kV or above and are longer than one mile. The USBOR is a part owner of the Moenkopi to Cedar Mountain 500kV transmission line, the point of interconnection for the Project. The USBOR must complete an environmental review of the proposed interconnection in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) prior to approving the Project's interconnection request. Stellar expects USBOR to prepare an environmental assessment for the Project to assess the environmental effects of the proposed interconnection. Stellar aims to start construction on the 1886 Solar Energy Center in Q3 2024.

By connecting the PV solar array and BESS to the regional electric grid, the Project will help APS meet its peak electrical load requirements and, in so doing, will lessen the need to dispatch less efficient, non-renewable "peaking resources." By including an energy storage facility, the Project will facilitate the further integration of intermittent generating resources (e.g., solar and wind energy).