Green (Energy) Acres
Tucson Electric Power has a continually expanding portfolio of clean renewable resources that help us provide affordable, reliable and sustainable energy service. Our “green acres” of community scale solar arrays and wind farms generate abundant clean energy for our customers.
More than 13 percent of our community's power came from renewable resources in 2018. That's much more than the 8 percent level required last year by the Arizona Renewable Energy Standard, which calls on utilities to increase their use of renewable energy each year until it reaches 15 percent of retail sales in 2025. The standard is based on the combined output of both utility resources and smaller private systems.
Our investment in clean, green generating resources will continue as we reduce our reliance on coal. TEP anticipates adding 450 megawatts (MW) of new renewable capacity by 2021, boosting our total renewable energy portfolio to more than 1,000 MW, or about 28 percent of our total annual generating capacity. We're also investing in energy storage, fast-ramping natural gas generators and other facilities needed to support new renewable resources.
TEP, recognized worldwide as an industry leader in renewable energy, will continue to invest in innovative, cost-effective renewable programs that offer benefits for all customers.
Supporting solar for everyone
With panels spreading out far and wide, TEP is working to provide customers with more opportunities to go solar.
The TEP GoSolar Shares program allows residential and business customers to cover some or all of their electrical needs by purchasing locally generated solar power.
Our new TEP GoSolar Home program, available soon, will allow homeowners to get all their power from a local TEP solar array for a fixed price that won’t change for a decade.
TEP also developed hundreds of rooftop solar arrays through its innovative TEP Residential Solar Program, a pilot project that provided fixed-price electric service using solar arrays installed on customers’ homes.
Considering solar for your home or business? Here are important questions to consider. Or, click here to learn more about connecting to TEP’s local distribution system.
Innovation in solar & other renewable resources
TEP, which built its first large solar array more than a decade ago, understands the importance of innovation in advancing renewable energy. We’re installing innovative energy storage systems to help enhance the resiliency of the local electric gird and support the expansion of solar power resources.
The Solar Zone –a joint venture of TEP, the University of Arizona and solar developers – is the largest multi-technology solar testing, evaluation and demonstration site in the United States. The Solar Zone at the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park in Tucson.
Researchers and scientists in the UA Renewable Energy Network work closely with TEP personnel to test solar panels, forecast weather, experiment with different solar technologies and develop batteries for storing energy.
Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable Solar for Tomorrow
TEP's community-scale solar power systems provide more reliable, affordable and sustainable energy than other renewable energy resources. Their large scale, cost-effective construction helps keep our rates affordable as we increase the sustainability of our energy portfolio. Have a look at the following videos to learn more about our community scale solar resources.
TEP’s renewable energy portfolio
| Project Name | In Service | Location | Capacity (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar | |||
| TEP Owned (Utility Scale) | |||
| Fort Huachuca Phase II | 2017 | Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista | 4.4 |
| White Mountain Solar | 2014 | Springerville | 8.5 |
| Fort Huachuca Phase I | 2014 | Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista | 13.6 |
| Solon Prairie Fire | 2012 | Old Vail & Valencia, Tucson | 4.5 |
| SunPower HQ | 2012 | TEP Headquarters, Tucson | 0.04 |
| UASTP II | 2011 | UA Tech Park * | 4.5 |
| UASTP I | 2010 | UA Tech Park * | 1.5 |
| Springerville Expansion 2 | 2010 | Springerville | 0.62 |
| Springerville Expansion 1 | 2010 | Springerville | 1.0 |
| Springerville | 2004 | Grant & Interstate 10, Tucson | 3.7 |
| Total Owned: | 42 | ||
| Power Purchase (Utility Scale) | |||
| Iron Horse | 2017 | UA Tech Park | 2 |
| Avalon Solar II | 2016 | Sahuarita | 16 |
| Red Horse Solar | 2015 | Willcox | 41 |
| Avalon Solar | 2014 | Sahuarita | 29 |
| Cogenra | 2014 | UA Tech Park * | 1 |
| Valencia Solar | 2013 | Valencia & Interstate 10, Tucson | 10 |
| E.On Tech Park | 2012 | UA Tech Park * | 4.8 |
| Gato Montes Solar | 2012 | UA Tech Park * | 5 |
| Avra Valley | 2012 | Marana | 25 |
| Picture Rocks | 2012 | Marana | 20 |
| Amonix UASTP Solar Power Generation Station | 2011 | UA Tech Park * | 2 |
| Total Power Purchase: | 156 | ||
| Total Utility Scale Solar: | 198 | ||
| Rooftop Solar Systems | |||
| Residential | 129 | ||
| Commercial | 108 | ||
| Total Rooftop Solar Systems: | 237 | ||
| Total Solar: | 435 | ||
| Wind | |||
| Red Horse Wind | 2015 | Willcox | 30 |
| Macho Springs | 2011 | Deming, NM | 50.4 |
| Total Wind: | 80.4 | ||
| Other | |||
| Sundt Bio-Gas (Los Reales Landfill) | 1998 | Sundt Generating Station, Tucson | 4 |
| Sundt Augmentation (solar thermal) | 2014 | Sundt Generating Station, Tucson | 5 |
| Total Renewable Resources: | 525 | ||