Invenergy, the largest privately-held developer, owner, and operator of clean energy solutions, has announced that the Yuma Solar Energy Center has officially reached commercial operations. This 70-megawatt solar and 70-megawatt storage project marks Invenergy’s first solar facility in Arizona to become operational. Located in Yuma County, the center generates enough electricity to power more than 21,000 homes, contributing to the state’s growing clean energy capacity.

The project played a significant role in job creation, supporting over 250 jobs during the construction phase and establishing six full-time positions for local workers. It is contracted to supply power to Arizona Public Services (APS), a long-time partner of Invenergy. Over the past two years, the collaboration between Invenergy and APS has added more than 250 megawatts of clean energy to Arizona’s grid. Notably, this includes the electrification of the El Sol Energy Storage Center in Youngtown and the groundbreaking of the Hashknife Solar Energy Center in Navajo County.

Jim Shield, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Invenergy, said in a statement, “Starting commercial operations at our first Arizona solar facility is a significant achievement and I congratulate the Yuma Solar team and our strong community partners for building a multifaceted energy solution for the State. We thank APS for their continued collaboration as we invest in communities to meet growing consumer demand with cleaner, more reliable, affordable energy.”

Brian Cole, APS Vice President of Resource Management, stated, “APS resource planners prepare years in advance to meet our customers’ growing energy needs with reliable and affordable service. As we head into another hot Arizona summer, the Yuma Solar Energy Center project will be a valuable addition to our diverse resource mix and will help keep air conditioners running and the lights on when customers need energy the most.”

The Yuma Solar Energy Center is also Invenergy’s 11th energy storage project to reach commercial operations in Arizona. As part of its commitment to the region, Invenergy invests over $2.2 million annually in local communities through land costs and lease payments, tax contributions, and wages. Through initiatives like the Yuma Solar Energy Center, Invenergy continues to advance clean energy solutions while supporting economic growth in Arizona.

Arizona Corporation Commission Chairman Kevin Thompson, mentioned, “This exciting milestone for Yuma Solar Energy Center is an important component of the ‘all of the above’ approach necessary to meet our energy demands of the future. Private developers of these types of projects provide a needed benefit to our grid that saves ratepayers money while spurring local economic growth and helps position Arizona as a continued leader in renewable energy.”