Arizona Public Service (APS) has selected Black & Veatch to design and construct 32MW Gila Bend Solar Power Plant in the region.
The proposed project, located on 400 acres in Gila Bend, will deploy around 170,000 single-axis tracker polycrystalline modules and will generate solar energy to power 8,000 Arizona homes and businesses.
The single-axis tracker design will allow the solar panels to follow the sun across the sky.
Commenting on the new project, APS Energy Innovation general manager Barbara Lockwood said the proposed solar power plant will showcase the organization’s commitment towards generating solar energy.
"In addition, this project is bringing significant economic benefits to Arizona, including high-quality jobs," added Lockwood.
B&V Energy, Black & Veatch president and CEO Dean Oskvig said, "Black & Veatch has been involved in nearly half the utility-scale photovoltaic plants currently operating in North America.
"We will bring this expertise to what will be the second largest plant under the AZ Sun program to date."
Construction of the proposed solar power plant is scheduled to commence in October 2013, and is expected to be completed by the end of June 2014.
When completed, the Gila Bend Plant will be the seventh solar power facility in Arizona.