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Planning commission unanimously recommends 1,000‑MW Red Veil solar project after safety debate
Summary
Navajo County planners recommended approval of Stellar Renewable's Red Veil Solar special use permit (1,000 MW solar + 1,000‑MW‑hour BESS) after staff and applicant described fire‑safety measures. One public speaker urged caution, citing battery storage fire incidents and environmental concerns; applicant and staff said suppression plans and state review will follow.
The Navajo County Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 17 recommended approval of SUP24‑007, the Red Veil Solar Energy Generation Facility, a proposed utility‑scale 1,000‑megawatt solar array paired with a 1,000‑megawatt‑hour battery energy storage system sited on roughly 9,213 acres northwest of Snowflake.
Staff summarized the project and recommended approval with 14 conditions, noting completed cultural‑resource and wildlife/habitat studies and avoidance of flood hazard areas. Tyler Richards explained the project will connect to the Salt River Project Sugarloaf substation and that the plan includes an operations and maintenance building, an on‑site substation, and road improvements for fire and emergency access.
Applicant representatives presented public‑safety measures and monitoring plans. Tom Galvin of Rose Law Group, representing Stellar Renewable, said the company has engaged the fire district, will provide 24/7 monitoring and an on‑site water tank, and will follow National Fire Protection Association standards. "We will have an on‑site water tank, and the site will be designed to comply with every request of the fire district and emergency management departments with the county," Galvin said. Melissa Funston, technical lead, described spacing of battery containers and a self‑contained suppression approach and said the team will provide a fire staging area and training for local fire responders.
One public commenter, Angie Adkins, urged denial and cited what she described as a pattern of fires and prolonged incidents at battery storage sites nationwide; she warned of water contamination risks to aquifers from firefighting and said local recreation and wildlife could be harmed. The applicant replied that many of those claims were not in the project record and that the application includes a referenced fire‑safety plan and ongoing coordination with local fire districts.
Commissioners pressed for technical specifics — the nature of the suppression system, where monitoring staff will be located, and whether the project will coordinate with Holbrook and Snowflake fire districts. Applicant representatives said the final suppression system design is still in progress (they identified a Tesla battery system as the current equipment reference) and that the state fire marshal's office and county emergency management will review any final fire‑prevention plan prior to construction.
After questions and discussion, Commissioner Latham moved and the commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors, subject to the staff‑recommended conditions. The recommendation will be forwarded along with the required fire‑prevention and technical documents for review by state and local fire authorities before any construction.
