The Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0 on Oct. 9 to recommend approval of MCP250005, the Ranger Energy Center, a proposed 100-megawatt battery energy storage facility on a Rural-43 (MAMF) parcel at the northeast corner of Happy Valley Road and 190th Avenue in the Surprise area.

The project proposer, represented by attorney Ben Graff of Quarles & Brady for National Renewable Solutions, told the commission the site would include 168 standalone battery enclosures and a 0.6-acre substation and that the design places battery enclosures 100 feet from property boundaries and 500 feet from nearby residences. Staff recommended approval subject to conditions A through G and an updated Condition D-9 in a memo dated Oct. 9.

The commission’s recommendation followed public comments from nearby residents Pete Peterson and Judy Ray, who live adjacent to the parcel and raised safety, evacuation, water-supply and groundwater contamination concerns. “What contingencies do they have when this thing goes up to be able to give us a place to live and stay for days on end?” Peterson said, adding concerns about past battery fires and local fire-response times.

Graff said the applicant had designed the site with the neighbor’s safety “of the utmost importance,” noted the project lies within the Luke Air Force Base noise contour and accident-potential area, and said the applicant accommodated the 500-foot distance for this case. He also told commissioners the parcel has been annexed into the Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (AFMA) service territory and provided an AFMA letter of support; Graff said AFMA is “directly responsible for any response on this site.”

Commissioners asked about the origin and justification of the 500-foot residential distance; staff explained it arose from prior BESS (battery energy storage system) cases and coordination with fire districts to address fire- and safety-related concerns, and that the county is working to codify a setback in an upcoming zoning ordinance update that would be considered by the Board of Supervisors in December if adopted.

Commissioner comments cited changes in facility design and emergency response since earlier, higher-injury incidents. One commissioner noted a recent site fire in Glendale produced no first-responder injuries and said newer designs and responder training have reduced risk. Commissioner Grama asked about post‑fire cleanup and potential soil or groundwater impacts; Graff said fires do not release contaminants to groundwater under the site design and that any topsoil testing indicating contamination would trigger removal and remediation coordinated with local and federal environmental authorities.

After discussion and two minutes of public comment, Vice Chair Milhaven moved approval of MCP250005 “as presented and including that change presented in the memo dated October 9,” and Chairman Lindblom seconded. The planning commission roll call showed unanimous support (yes votes recorded from Commissioners Finter, Hernandez, Layton, Lindblom, Milhaven, Rockwallick and Whitney), and the motion carried 7‑0 as a recommendation from the commission.

The commission record notes the site is within the White Tank–Grand Avenue area plan, within the 65 LDN noise contour and in accident-potential zone 2 for the Luke Air Force Auxiliary Airfield. Staff’s recommendation and the applicant materials address setbacks, screening, paving deviations and updated condition language (D-9) to clarify POD approval timelines; staff said the applicant was working with them to schedule final permitting steps and to satisfy the listed conditions.

The decision recorded by the commission is a recommendation consistent with commission practice; the transcript records the recommendation vote and conditions but does not state any subsequent Board of Supervisors action or final permitting steps beyond staff follow-up and the conditions cited.

For now, nearby residents remain concerned about evacuation and long-duration fires, water availability for firefighting and potential effects on well water; commissioners and the applicant emphasized AFMA’s annexation and letter of support and said post-fire cleanup, testing and remediation processes would apply if an incident occurred.

The commission adjourned after the roll call.