By Pinal Central
FLORENCE — Despite the opposition of the Pinal County Planning and Zoning Commission, a dozen public hearing speakers and the cities of Coolidge and Eloy, a majority of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved industrial zoning for a 1,649-acre solar farm along State Route 287 Wednesday.
Invenergy’s SunDog Solar Energy Center will be surrounded by Casa Grande, Coolidge and Eloy; Casa Grande supported the proposed solar project. The supervisors approved both a rezoning from General Rural and a planned overlay on votes of 3-2. Vice Chairman Jeffrey McClure, R-Eagle Crest Ranch, and Jeff Serdy, R-Apache Junction, voted no.
Deborah Neely of Coolidge said in the public hearing she’s frustrated and disappointed that Pinal County isn’t worthy of any better development. Brenda Hiscox said Invenergy could afford to put its project away from people. Barry McCain of Maricopa called it a case of “greed over need.”
