Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has approved the Sonoran solar energy project, which was proposed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC. This project is the first ever to be approved for construction on public lands in Arizona, according to the Department of the Interior (DOI).
The PV plant is expected to generate 300 MW and create over 374 jobs through construction, operation and maintenance. It underwent extensive environmental review, reflecting strong efforts to mitigate potential environmental impacts, the DOI says. For instance, the solar technology was changed from concentrating solar power to PV in order to reduce water usage.
