Virginia clean energy firm plans 350-megawatt solar plant near Buckeye

Article originally posted on Phoenix Business Journal on July 28, 2026

A private clean energy firm is planning a major solar project on state-owned land near Buckeye, amid a flurry of similar projects in various stages of development in the West Valley and further south in Pinal County.

Charlottesville, Virginia-based Apex Clean Energy applied for a 30-year commercial lease for a 3,897-acre site where it wants to build a 350-megawatt utility-scale solar plant with battery energy storage systems, according to documents submitted with the Arizona State Land Department.

The property is located west of State Route 85, and about 13 miles south of Interstate 10.

The site is going up for auction for a 30-year commercial lease on Aug. 18, with a $43,112,000 starting bid.

To get such a project up and running, needed infrastructure improvements include upgrading existing roads and building new ones, along with installing solar panels, electrical equipment, a new substation and battery energy storage systems.

That’s expected to cost an estimated $740 million, according to documents Apex submitted with the ASLD.

In 2021 Apex announced a majority ownership acquisition by funds managed by Ares Management Corporation, which will provide capital for Apex to self-fund the sponsor equity required to develop the project near Buckeye, and others like it elsewhere in the country. Apex may bring on additional equity partners to the project, according to its ASLD application.

Apex site plan, development agreement still needs approval

In December 2024, the project, dubbed “Grande Verde Solar” received approvals for a major comprehensive plan amendment and zone change from Maricopa County. Apex still needs to get a plan of development with Maricopa County and a site plan approved from the city of Buckeye, according to an Apex spokesperson.