Salt River Project has added a number of solar facilities to its energy portfolio in recent years, but it has leaned on outside companies to do so.
The company says that funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will allow it to develop its own facility.
SRP hopes that half of its retail energy will come from carbon-free sources by 2025.
The utility’s board of directors recently approved a solar generating station at the Copper Crossing Research and Energy Facility near Florence.
The project will be the first the company develops, owns and operates.
Other plans for the site include natural gas-powered turbines and battery storage, which will allow customers to use solar power after the sun goes down.
That phase is expected to go to the board early next year.
