Advocacy

Solar preserves Yavapai County!

A recently approved zoning ordinance singles out solar energy for unnecessary red tape. It's government overreach and it will cost the region much-needed jobs and investment.

“Solar power supplies electric power for greenhouses, crop aggregation, and food processing facilities.”

– Yavapai County 2032 Comprehensive Plan (pg. 101)

Energy demand is growing and, done right, solar is the best solution for Yavapai County.

The Facts

Natural gas plants require 140 times more water than solar farms.

Gas pipelines are a risk to contaminate our rivers and groundwater.

Illustration of solar panels

Solar is the cheapest energy source and can be paired with farming and grazing.

BUT, this ordinance:

  1. Restricts private property rights
  2. Duplicates existing, applicable requirements
  3. Puts more restrictions on solar than fuel storage tanks

There is still time to fix this. There are new supervisors who have a chance to invest in a clean, water-smart economic future in Yavapai.

  • Call or email your County Supervisor and ask them to fix the solar facilities ordinance and respect energy choices!

Sources

  • County Comprehensive Plan
    Approved in 2023 by the current board
    • Page 5, Section 2.1: This Land Use Element is not intended to restrict future growth but to manage it in a way that minimizes environmental impacts while offering residents a range of choices.
    • Page 101, Section 8.1: Solar power supplies electric power for greenhouses, crop aggregation, and food processing facilities.
  • Proposed Solar Facilities Ordinance
  1. Gas power uses 140x more water than solar power
    20 gallons - water needed per mWh of energy generated from solar PV
    ‍    2,800 gallons - water needed per mWh of energy generated from gas
  2. Gas plants vs. Solar farms are 62% cheaper
    Lazard Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis
  3. The ACC has raised our bills every year for 10 years:
    US Energy Information Agency retail electricity price data
  4. Phoenix-Mesa ranked 5th worst ozone pollution in the U.S:
    American Lung Association State of the Air report 2024
  5. Lake Mead hasn't reached full capacity in over 40 years:
    NASA Earth Observatory
  6. Arizona's been in a drought since 1994:
    Arizona Dept of Water Resources
  7. Arizona sun could power the US economy three times over:
    National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  8. 42% of our electricity comes from gas. Arizona has no gas resources:
    US Energy Information Agency state profile
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