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Cochise County weighs zoning guardrails for utility-scale solar amid budget strains
Summary
Supervisors and planning staff held an informational session on utility-scale solar, reviewing benefits (centrally assessed equipment tax revenue, temporary construction jobs) and risks (water, decommissioning costs, fire safety). Staff proposed stronger permit conditions, financial assurance and site studies before approvals.
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors and the county’s planning staff on Feb. 11 held a joint work session to review how the county should regulate incoming utility-scale solar projects and protect residents from potential long-term costs.
Chair opened the session by framing the stakes: Cochise County faces declining state-shared revenue and an aging population that reduces the local tax base, creating pressure to find new revenue sources without raising property taxes. “We are not growing economically,” the chair said, and the county needs options that generate revenue while “minimally impacting the quality of life of our residents.”
Planning and development staff outlined current land-use authority and the tools available to the county. Staff said many solar projects are permitted either by right in industrial zones or through a special-use authorization that allows site-specific conditions. Those conditions can…
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