Commission approves 40-acre Parker Ranch solar and small data center with conditions; vote 5-3
Loading...
Summary
The commission voted 5-3 to approve SU-25-27, allowing a 40‑acre solar installation and a small data center proposed by Luis and Maria Musa, subject to standard permitting, an emergency response plan, anti-reflective panels, minimum row spacing, animal‑permeable fencing, and requirements to coordinate grid interconnection and mitigation for dust,|
The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 8 recommended approval of SU-25-27, a special-use authorization to allow a solar energy facility and a small data center on about 40 acres of RU-4 land near Parker Ranch Road east of Wilcox. The motion passed 5–3.
Planner Mister Taylor described the proposal as a roughly 40‑acre solar array with six blocks of PV panels, a warehouse/equipment yard and a roughly 1,000–1,200 square‑foot building to house a small data center. Staff said the applicant’s feasibility work estimated up to about 15.5 megawatts of generation from the 40‑acre array, that the site is surrounded by 40‑acre RU‑4 parcels, and that postcard notice elicited one written response in favor.
Applicant Luis Musa told the commission the data center would be powered primarily by the site’s solar output and said he expected some energy to be exported to the grid: “I expect, on the opposite end, some of those energy will go to the grid instead,” and described the project as “green energy” for local use.
Questions from commissioners and members of the public focused on several technical and environmental issues: water usage and cooling for the data center, battery storage and fire risk, interconnection to the local SSVEC grid, potential impacts on wildlife and avian species, visual impacts, and plans for decommissioning. The applicant said the data center would use closed‑loop coolant systems rather than continuous water draws, that battery containers (shipping‑container style) were anticipated for storage, and that interconnection feasibility had been studied; staff said the project would need to coordinate with the electric provider for grid access and submit required permits and analyses.
Staff recommended standard conditions for solar facilities, including right‑of‑way and floodplain permits, grading and drainage analysis, a traffic improvement or maintenance plan addressing Parker Ranch Road, an emergency response plan for county and fire review, anti‑reflective PV panels, minimum clear spacing between tracker rows, and perimeter fencing with a 4–6 inch gap at the base for small‑animal permeability. Taylor also advised the commission that decommissioning and fencing/maintenance standards from Section 2.51 would apply.
Several commissioners raised environmental concerns, including avian impacts and long‑term questions about panel disposal and landscape change. Commissioner Montgomery supported approval with the expectation that environmental studies and permit conditions would be satisfied before construction or expansion; Chair DePue and Commissioner Lindpach voted no, citing insufficient detail and environmental uncertainty. The motion passed 5–3.
Staff reiterated that permit compliance, interconnection coordination, emergency planning, and required mitigation measures would be enforced through building, grading and floodplain permits and through standard conditions attached to the special use authorization.
