Catclaw Solar is a renewable energy project under development in the city of Buckeye, Arizona. Catclaw is a “solar-plus-storage” project, meaning that it will pair solar photovoltaic panels with a battery energy storage system capable of producing up to 250 MW of energy and 250 MW of energy storage, respectively.

The photovoltaic panels installed are similar to those used on rooftops and parking lots; adding battery storage allows the Project to store excess solar generation throughout the day for later use, such as during the night, on cloudy days, and during times of increased demand.

Catclaw Solar is being developed by an affiliate of DESRI. DESRI and its affiliates develop, acquire, own, and operate long-term contracted renewable energy assets in the U.S. DESRI’s portfolio of contracted, operating, and in-construction renewable energy projects currently includes 70 solar and wind projects representing more than nine gigawatts of aggregate capacity. You can find more information at desri.com.

Please see the project map of Buckeye, Arizona. The image will open in a new tab.

The existing APS Sun Valley Substation, where the electricity will be distributed throughout APS’s service territory.

Catclaw Solar will advance grid stability and energy independence for Arizona and Maricopa County. Adding more electricity generation to the area benefits local residents by providing power to the electrical grid, thereby potentially reducing outage risks from elsewhere. Grid stability is further improved by the battery energy storage component because it will allow the solar energy to be dispatched to the grid at optimal times.

We value your feedback and engagement throughout the planning process. Please see our Contact page to find the representative best suited to address your area of interest.

The Project will require a new 7-mile transmission line from the solar facility to the existing APS Sun Valley Substation. Catclaw Solar is in the process of conducting environmental analysis for the transmission line to minimize land use, visual, recreational, biological, and cultural impacts.

It is a common misconception that utility-scale solar projects decrease property value. Most assessors believe that large solar projects would have minimal impact on property values. Across the United States, solar farms have been shown to have negligible, or even slightly positive, impacts on property values of nearby residences. 

No, Catclaw Solar will use minimal water. The biggest use of water occurs during construction to suppress any dust. After construction, water will be primarily used to remove dirt and dust from solar panels, if necessary.