General FAQs

  • Kitt Solar is a renewable energy project under construction in the City of Eloy, Pinal County, Arizona. Kitt is a “solar-plus-storage” project, pairing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with a battery system capable of producing 100 MWac of solar energy and 100 MW of energy storage.

    The panels installed are essentially the same as those regularly installed on rooftops and parking lots, while adding battery storage allows the project to collect excess solar generation throughout the day for use later, generally during the night or on cloudy days.

  • Kitt Solar is developed and owned by Avantus a leading solar and energy storage developer with more than a decade of success across the Western United States. Our legacy of leadership in next generation solar energy includes developing the nation’s largest solar cluster and the first power plant to deliver energy for less than fossil fuel prices back in 2016.

  • The project area under consideration comprises approximately 640 acres for the development of the proposed solar photovoltaic (PV) facility, battery energy storage system (BESS), project substation and collection system, among other associated infrastructure. The project will interconnect to the existing Arizona Public Service (APS) Milligan Substation.

  • Avantus maintains site control of privately-owned land associated with the proposed project through a long-term lease with the property owners. You can view a site map here.

  • The location of Kitt Solar is ideal for solar power plant development for several reasons, including access to a nearby substation and transmission lines, availability of sufficient land, a strong local workforce, and, of course, abundant sunshine.

  • Yes, the City of Eloy has approved the construction of Kitt Solar.

  • Construction has begun and is anticipated to be complete in late 2026.

  • The existing Arizona Public Service (APS) Milligan Substation will connect Kitt Solar to Arizona’s grid. APS is Arizona’s largest electric utility, providing service to more than 2.7 million Arizonans from the border town of Douglas to the vistas of the Grand Canyon. Kitt Solar has a signed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with APS.  

  • Kitt Solar will advance grid stability and energy independence for Arizona and the Pinal County. Adding more electricity generation to the area is expected to benefit local residents by providing locally generated power to the electrical grid, thereby potentially reducing outage risks from elsewhere. Grid stability is further improved by the Battery Energy Storage System that will be associated with Kitt Solar, allowing the locally generated solar energy to be dispatched to the grid at optimal times.

  • We value your feedback and engagement throughout the planning process. Please see our Contact page to find the representative best suited to address your area of interest.

Siting & Environmental Considerations

Please see our Minimizing Impact page for additional information and resources.

  • Avantus makes every effort to utilize existing transmission lines when possible. This project will require a short, approximately 0.25 mile transmission line from the project site to the nearby APS Milligan Substation.

  • Avantus has a positive track record with local, state, and federal wildlife agencies as well as with environmental organizations. Our past projects have garnered support from respected groups including the Sierra Club, Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. We design each project to avoid or minimize potential impacts to threatened or endangered species and ensure proper mitigation measures are provided as appropriate.

  • No, Kitt Solar will use minimal water. The biggest use of water occurs during construction to suppress any dust. After construction, water will be primarily used for native plant landscaping to meet Eloy requirements and to remove dirt and dust from the solar panels, if necessary.

  • During construction, we expect our crew will generate some noise and add cars/trucks to certain roads, and we will aim to minimize those potential impacts.

    As always, we aim to be respectful of our neighbors and aim to keep construction noise to a minimum. All site activity is subject to and will comply with Eloy, AZ noise ordinances.

  • Solar panels are designed to absorb light for energy. Kitt Solar will use no mirrors and will utilize anti-reflective coating on all solar panels to reduce light reflection. Research studies have concluded that modern solar panels reflect as little as 2% of incoming sunlight, which is about the same as water and less than soil or even wood shingles.

  • Dust suppression will be used throughout the construction period to control dust and minimize the potential impacts on construction workers and the surrounding community, as mandated by Pinal County and Arizona regulations.

    During operations, the solar panels themselves act as a wind breaker, reducing wind speeds and thereby minimizing airborne dust. Because we are in the business of capturing sunlight, we are incentivized to make sure our panels are free from excessive dust.

Project Safety

  • Yes. Kitt Solar will feature 24/7 security and monitoring to ensure the safety of the project and equipment. The project may include additional security measures, including warning reflective signage, controlled access points, security camera systems, and/or security guard vehicle patrols to deter trespassing and unauthorized activities.

  • No. Today’s solar panels are designed to operate safely for decades. Panels are manufactured using hardware similar to smartphones, computers and televisions. Researchers from a number of national laboratories and universities have studied the soil and water near solar plants and found no levels of toxicity that present risks to nearby ecosystems.

  • Avantus has a positive fire safety record. We take proactive steps to avoid, reduce, and mitigate potential fire risks in collaboration with national standards committees, Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories, and guidelines laid out by the National Fire Protection Association.

    At the local level, we are coordinating closely with the Eloy Fire District throughout the design, construction, and testing phases to ensure Kitt Solar adheres to safety standards. Avantus and its partners will prepare and maintain a comprehensive emergency response plan and will train all first responders on emergency procedures for a solar power plant and energy storage system. 

    Our projects are monitored for any warning signs of potential issues. In the unlikely event of a fire, our crews are trained for response according to our emergency operation plan.

  • Safety is our priority. Like all Avantus projects, Kitt Solar will be built in accordance with safety precautions, and emergency systems will be implemented to safeguard our construction and operations crews.

    Potentially hazardous materials at our project sites are limited to the minimal oils, fuels, and solvents required to operate machinery and clean equipment. Any hazardous materials and wastes would be managed, used, handled, stored, and transported in accordance with applicable local and state regulations.

    The Kitt Solar site will be surrounded by fencing and may be equipped with controlled access points, intrusion alarms, security cameras, and additional measures designed to prevent trespassing, vandalism, or unauthorized activities.

  • As with any construction activity or natural phenomena that includes ground disturbance, construction workers are at a somewhat increased risk of potential exposure to airborne spores that can cause flu-like symptoms known as “Valley Fever.” We are committed to ensuring that all personnel receive the proper training, educational materials, and protective equipment to avoid or mitigate exposure, and we take multiple precautionary steps to reduce airborne dust from our project sites.

    Avantus meets or exceeds all safety requirements to reduce the risk of Valley Fever to workers and the community. None of Avantus’ operating projects have been connected to an outbreak.

  • Yes. Glass, aluminum, and high purity silicon, which make up the majority of solar panel materials, can be recovered during the recycling process and repurposed for new solar panels.

Economics & Employment

Please see our Local Benefits page for additional information and resources.

  • No. In fact, Kitt Solar is expected to bring economic benefits to the community. Throughout the construction process, Kitt Solar is expected to provide a boost to local businesses including restaurants, markets, and grocers. Over the project’s lifetime, Kitt Solar is expected to generate millions in local tax revenue that will go towards an array of essential services like schools, public safety, and street services.

    In the past, we have partnered with local communities to help with training opportunities and educational programs. We’ve also contributed funds and expertise toward prizes to encourage students, facilities benefiting local residents, food and toy drives, and more. With Kitt Solar, we are working to replicate that level of partnership by working with local unions, organizations, and schools.

  • Avantus anticipates creating up to 500 well-paying jobs throughout the construction process, with local workers prioritized whenever possible.

  • We expect to hire up to 4 full-time permanent employees in operations, security, and maintenance roles.

  • It is a common misconception that utility-scale solar projects decrease property value, but available data and research point elsewhere. Most assessors believe that large solar projects would have minimal impact on property values. Across the United States, solar farms have been shown to have a negligible, or even slightly positive, impact on the property values of nearby residences.

Operations

  • Avantus designs and engineers every project to mitigate technical challenges during our systems’ lifetime. Solar panels, battery storage, support structures, and electrical components are subject to testing and certification to ensure durability and safe performance in extreme heat, high winds, heavy rain, and even hailstorms. Furthermore, the minimal number of moving parts throughout the solar plant inherently lead to high reliability.

    Kitt Solar’s plant performance will be monitored and managed in real-time. In the unlikely event of damage or performance issues, Avantus and our project partners will work together to get the project back online. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it’s also critical to our business—our projects are contracted to deliver power, so we’re committed to keeping them running safely and reliably.

  • Once operational, Kitt Solar will not create a significant source of additional traffic on local roads. Any noise generated by the project is expected to be minimal and should not be heard by neighboring residents. The low hum from inverters and/or slow speed rotating solar trackers is audible only from a very close range.

Additional Questions?

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