(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Stellar Renewable Power.)
By Toni Gibbons | White Mountain Independent
The Navajo County Board of Supervisors approved a special use permit for the Stellar Red Hills Solar project at the Nov. 12 meeting, setting the stage for a 1,000-megawatt solar power facility and battery storage system northwest of Snowflake. The project, sprawling across 9,213 acres of grazing land, promises renewable energy innovation but has sparked mixed reactions from the community.
Navajo County Planning Manager Cody Cooper introduced the project, detailing its scope. “The property is about 5½ miles north of Snowflake,” Cooper said. “It includes 15 parcels owned by Aztec Land and Cattle Company, Flake Ranch, Langley AZ Ranch and the Arizona State Land Department. Historically, this land has been used for grazing, with the nearest residential neighborhood located 1.3 miles southeast.”
The facility will feature photovoltaic solar panels and a battery storage system capable of holding 1,000 megawatts of electricity for up to 4 hours. It will also connect to the SRP Sugarloaf Substation via a high-capacity transmission line. Construction is set to begin in late 2026, with operations targeted by the end of 2028.
