Solar Project Near Coolidge Fails, McClure a No
REPRINTED FROM PINALPOST.COM | May, 2025
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors rejected the proposed Valley Farms Energy Center in a split 2-3 vote during their April 30 meeting. A supermajority vote was required because at least 20% of property owners, by both area and number, within 300 feet of the project site filed formal objections, triggering the condition under A.R.S. § 11-814, which mandates a supermajority in such cases and was noted during the presentation. Supervisors Mike Goodman and Stephen Miller voted in favor, while Supervisors Rich Vitiello, Jeff McClure, and Jeff Serdy opposed the project, which had previously been recommended for denial by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Editor’s Note: Jeff McClure represents the SaddleBrooke are of Pinal County on the Board.
The Vote and Supervisor Positions
Supervisor Goodman emphasized the growing energy demands in the county, noting that the vast majority of San Tan Valley and Maricopa residents leave Pinal County for work. He highlighted the board’s strategic initiative to bring employment centers to the area, which requires sufficient power infrastructure and energy. Goodman noted that whenever companies look at coming to the area, “they’ve looked at two factors, water and energy.” He cited a two-day power outage in Gilbert last summer as an example of why energy reliability is essential.
Chairman Miller cited property rights, stating, “I look at it with the property rights. I’m a property rights-type person.” He added, “This is not harming anybody in the surrounding area. The lands adjacent to this are farms, and they’ll be able to continue to farm.” He also noted the county’s need to generate more tax revenue, explaining that while solar projects depreciate over time, after 10 years “it flattens out. It’s there. So it’s more than what we would get on farmland.”
Supervisor Vitiello questioned project benefits for local residents. When Kendall Riley, the county planner, noted that “applicant has estimated that around 70 letters of support have been received,” Vitiello responded, “I probably read at least 30, 40 of ’em, if not 50 of ’em, that were not from the area.” Vitiello also counted that during the meeting, thirteen or fourteen people spoke, with three from Coolidge in favor and approximately nine from Coolidge against the project.
Supervisor Serdy conveyed that all the mayors in the eastern region of Pinal County that he communicates with opposed the project, stating they “don’t think they can grow into this, up against this.” He added, “Once you get this, you’re not gonna get anything else.”
Project Overview and History
The Valley Farms Energy Center proposal aimed to rezone 160 acres from General Rural to Industrial (I-3) zoning with a Planned Area Development overlay. The project, located at the northwest corner of East Bartlett Road and North Clemens Road in the Coolidge/Valley Farms area east of Highway 87, would house a 10-megawatt photovoltaic solar facility with battery energy storage.
Thank you Supervisors Rich Vitiello, Jeff McClure, and Jeff Serdy for voting NO!