Arizona Line Siting & CEC Compliance

In 1971, the Arizona Legislature created the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee to review construction of new major electric facilities in Arizona and make recommendations to the Arizona Corporation Commission. Today, the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee has before it a robust slate of electric infrastructure projects looking to enter Arizona. Due to the surge in new technology and infrastructure, the relevant statutes and regulations are constantly evolving to effectively and efficiently facilitate the project review process. This session will provide attendees with an overview of the power plant and line siting process, including discussion of recent siting updates and best practices

The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (AZ SHPO) reviews CEC applications under the State Historic Preservation Act (State Act). During this session, the AZ SHPO will provide information regarding their office, including who they are and what they do, and the State Act, including the triggers for compliance review, the review process, potential obstacles (e.g., land jurisdiction, historic properties within the project area, schedules), and what happens next. They will also provide an overview of the information they are looking for during their review, the guidance available, and tips to help them streamline your review.

This Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) released its first guidelines for solar energy development in 2010. Since then, the scale and number of solar projects has grown, and new research has deepened our understanding of potential impacts of these developments on wildlife. This session will highlight key updates to the Department’s solar guidelines, which emphasize collaboration to address the needs of wildlife and their habitats while meeting demands for energy.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) works with project proponents to identify potential impacts to wildlife and their habitats, and provides recommendations to avoid, minimize, or offset those impacts. This sessions will explain the coordination process, as well as highlight tools and resources available to help developers and consultants assess potential wildlife impacts during project planning and siting.

This presentation will cover the development of renewable energy in Arizona from the viewpoint of Arevon Energy.

The Arizona Power Plant and Line Siting Committee has set the bar for alternative route development, often resulting in the analysis of three or more alternative routes as part of the Siting Study. Evaluating three or more alternatives isn’t just bureaucratic, it’s strategic.

This session will explore best practices for alternative route development, with a focus on the use of geospatial analysis to assess potential impacts related to the nine factors considered by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) under ARS § 40-360. In addition, the session will cover how the identification of right-of-way opportunities and constraints affects constructability and cost analysis. Key topics will include:

• Geospatial Analysis Technique: Leveraging spatial data to evaluate the ACC’s nine factors across proposed routes.
• Right-of-Way (ROW) Identification: Strategies for identifying ROW opportunities and constraints, including:
  • Integration with existing infrastructure
  • Constructability
  • Cost Analysis

Your CEC is built to last, make sure it works for you. What steps are you taking in your applications, hearings, and compliance processes to streamline management and set your team up for long-term success? This discussion will cover ideas to shape your strategy now and ensure smooth sailing and strong compliance down the road.

This session will cover current issues in obtaining Certificates of Environmental Compatibility. The candid panel discussion will address problems facing practitioners in Arizona line siting today, moving beyond statutory frameworks to share troubleshooting strategies, project management techniques, and solutions for navigating emerging regulatory challenges that can make or break your CEC application. Topics will include:

• Best practices for witness examination
• Addressing unique issues pertaining to geothermal, battery storage, PV solar, and wind projects
• Incorporating NEPA and other federal and state permitting approvals into the CEC process
• The special challenge of water
• Leasing or buying federal or state land

The Westwing 230kV Interconnection Project resulted from a customer interconnection request to connect a large-scale battery storage project, being built approximately 1-mile away from the Westwing Substation. At the time, recent adverse incidents across the country regarding battery storage projects were in the news and brought additional scrutiny to the siting process and the CEC hearings. This discussion will include a review of these challenges, and the steps taken by the APS siting team to overcome them and successfully site the transmission line.

Whether you’re navigating your first CEC application or refining your approach for future projects, this open format panel is your opportunity to explore how the Committee weighs decisions, how environmental considerations are integrated, and what makes a siting case strong. Come ready to ask questions, share experiences, and gain insights into the line siting landscape in Arizona.