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Board approves Ranger Energy Center battery storage with fence, vegetation stipulations
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Summary
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved a military‑compatibility permit for Ranger Energy Center, a proposed lithium iron phosphate battery storage facility, adding stipulations including an 8‑foot privacy‑slatted fence and on‑site desert vegetation salvage for screening after neighbors raised safety and aesthetic concerns.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Nov. 19 to approve a military‑compatibility permit and plan of development for the Ranger Energy Center, a battery energy storage system proposed on a 33.7‑acre parcel near Happy Valley Road and 199th Avenue in the Surprise area.
Tom Ellsworth, director of planning and development, told the board the site is inside the military airport overlay district and the Luke Air Force Base has issued a use‑compatibility and consistency determination. The planned facility would occupy about 8.5 acres; Ellsworth said the proposed cabinets would be set back at least 100 feet from the property boundaries and at least 500 feet from the nearest homes and that permitting will also require approvals from the Arizona Fire Authority and county permitting staff.
Neighbors who spoke during public comment expressed concerns about noise, fire risk and property values. Pete Peterson, who said he owns property about 550 feet from the site, warned of noise from cooling units and said residents had not received satisfactory answers from the developer.
Ben Graff, the applicant’s attorney, said the project uses lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP) and noted the industry shifted away from earlier cobalt‑based chemistries. Graff acknowledged no technology is entirely risk‑free but said the developer worked with local fire authorities and provided a letter of support from the Arizona Medical and Fire Authority. He offered two mitigation commitments on the record: raising the perimeter fence to 8 feet with desert‑tone slats for visual screening and salvaging and replanting on‑site vegetation from the facility interior to create an external natural buffer. Graff said those measures could be added as stipulations if the board desired.
Fire‑safety issues also drew technical comments from Brian Scholl, a former Phoenix firefighter and consultant, who described changes in codes and first‑responder procedures since earlier, higher‑risk installations. Scholl said modern LFP chemistries produce smoke similar to residential fires and that newer enclosures and standards reduce hazards and improve responder options.
Supervisor Lesko moved approval with conditions A through H on the agenda plus the two new neighbor provisions (an 8‑foot desert‑slatted fence and salvaged vegetation planted at the perimeter). The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
The board’s approval is for the military compatibility permit and attached plan of development; Graff said subsequent building and permitting steps — including water capacity determinations and fire authority approvals — remain separate. Ellsworth reminded the board that because part of the notification area exceeds 20% protesting landowners, a super‑majority would normally be required to pass the item but that the board acted under the MCP process with Luke AFB’s UCCD in the packet.
The board approved the item and closed public comment; staff said any permitting and final technical approvals would follow the county’s permitting and state fire‑safety review process.
