Yellow Bell Solar and Bess Project

Project introduction

Yellow Bell (Project) is a 200-megawatt (MW) solar and storage project currently under development in Maricopa County, Arizona. The project will use the 230kV APS Panda Substation as its point of interconnection.

It is located on 2000 acres of private and state lands north of Gila Bend, a small rural community many drive by on their way to Phoenix. The community hopes to revitalize its economy with new development, and we hope to support the town in its goal to become the “Solar Capital of the World,” as stated in its General Plan. While this will be our first project within Gila Bend, RWE has operated several projects in the county since 2012.

RWE Clean Energy has been working on this project since 2021, and we are excited to bring applications to Maricopa County and the Town of Gila Bend for final permitting in the coming months. This comes after years of environmental, engineering, and commercial work in preparation for a construction start in late 2024. Construction will conclude, and operations will begin 1.5 years later in the spring of 2026.

Status: In development

Site Location

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Facts and Figures

00 Megawatt (MW)

solar farm

00 megawatt hours

battery storage

Up to 00

homes powered

Project Benefits

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Increasing Local Revenue

Yellow Bell will provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Maricopa County and local taxing districts. This new source of public funding can reduce the tax burden on local residents and be used to support essential services, including schools, roads, fire departments, and first responders.

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Increasing Local Revenue
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Supporting Rural Economies

Hundreds of jobs will be created during construction, offering residents opportunities to enter the rapidly expanding clean energy workforce. Local businesses will see an economic boom as demand for lodging, restaurants, supplies, vehicle maintenance, and fuel increases throughout the 9-12 months of construction.

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Supporting Rural Economies
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Supporting Communities

RWE Clean Energy intends to be good neighbors and active participants in the community. We are now members of the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce and look forward to supporting local events and organizations through sponsorships and donations as needed. 

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Supporting Communities

Stronger electric grid

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TICO2-stronger-grid

Battery storage, BESS, is a technology that enables power system operators and utilities to store energy for later use. Reliable capacity to meet and provide a quick response to variations in demand and supply.

Protecting the Environment & the Community

Yellow Bell Solar and Storage will be designed to complement existing agricultural land uses, protect the soil, and avoid negative impacts to wildlife. Solar farms produce electricity without generating any pollution, resulting in cleaner air and water when compared to traditional power plants.

Comprehensive studies are required as part of the planning and permitting process to protect public safety and the environment. The project will be virtually silent outside the fence line, while setbacks and vegetative screening will minimize viewshed impacts. Solar panels are designed to minimize glare and are often installed at major airports across the world.

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Yellow Bell will use silicon-based PV panels, which are made of safe, well-tested materials commonly used in building and household products. The panels are fully sealed and extremely durable, preventing trace metals from escaping into the surrounding soil. PV solar panels are so safe that millions of families across the U.S. have put solar panels on their homes and literally sleep beneath them. RWE’s advanced remote operations center will monitor the panels 24/7, 365 days a year, while the onsite operations team will be available to respond in the unlikely event of an emergency.

At the end of the project's useful life, the equipment will be removed, and the land can be returned to its original uses.

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