Snowflake Solar Gen-Tie Transmission Line

The purpose of the generation intertie (gen-tie) project is to connect the planned Snowflake Solar Energy Center to the APS Cholla Substation, providing a connection to the regional electric grid in northern Arizona and the southwestern U.S. This specific milestone is to achieve a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) in accordance with the Arizona Corporation Commission regulation.

• Provides additional electrical reliability in the region, supplying power to the local area via APS’s existing electric grid
• Delivers a source of clean energy to the grid, which reduces reliance on fossil fuels and helps to maintain clean air quality and climate stability
• Provides an estimated 75 construction jobs
• Clēnera intends to support trades apprenticeship programs and maximize local labor to complete construction

This website will provide the public with information about the gen-tie line and the opportunity to provide comment.

Begins December 9 at 1:00 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 1175 West Route 66, Flagstaff AZ 86001. Additional resources are linked below.

•  Pre-Filing Conference Transcript (PDF) 
•  Pre-Hearing Conference Transcript (PDF) 
•  Notice of Hearing 
•  Hearing Agenda 
•  Procedural Order 

A tour of the proposed interconnection line is scheduled for December 10, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. The tour itinerary and route map are available by  clicking this link .

An in-person open house was held in Holbrook on August 15 and a public webinar was held on Wednesday, September 18.

You can view a digital version of the in-person information boards by  clicking here  and a recording on the webinar can be watched by  clicking here .

The map below outlines the proposed route and 1-mile radius study area for the CEC application. The proposed gen-tie will be approx. 15 miles long with a 500 kilovolt and up to 1,000 MW capacity. The lines will be above-ground on poles that are expected to remain under 199 ft. height.

The below designs are the possible structures that would be used for the gen-tie line. No decision on which specific structure will be used has been made at this stage in the project's design process.

• Desktop and field reconnaissance surveys have been completed and evaluations to support the CEC application are ongoing.
• Compliance with the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act.

• Photo-realistic visual simulations of the Snowflake Solar Interconnection Project have been completed and can be viewed in Updated Exhibit G in the CEC Supplemental Filing (to be posted online in the near future).

• A review of known cultural and historic resources field surveys have been completed to support the CEC application.
• Evaluations are ongoing and consultation will be conducted with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office.

A public hearing regarding the CEC Application has been scheduled before the ACC Line Siting Committee on Monday December 9 beginning at 1:00 p.m. and will continue, as necessary, on Tuesday December 10, 2024, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and again each subsequent day through the completion of the hearing. A public comment session will be held starting at 5:30 p.m. on December 9. Members of the public or other stakeholders are invited to attend the hearing in person or virtually. The hearing will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Flagstaff, in the Coconino/Canyon Room, located at 1175 West Route 66, Flagstaff, Arizona.

The Committee will consider the application and public comments, and we anticipate them to issue approval or revisions to the Snowflake Solar Interconnection Project in early 2025.

You can provide comments about the gen-tie project in several ways.

Email:  SnowflakeGenTie@swca.com 

Voicemail: (928) 268-7085.

Mail: Snowflake Solar Interconnection Project c/o SWCA Environmental Consultants 1750 S Woodlands Village Blvd, Suite 200 Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Additional opportunities for public comment will be available during the Line Siting Committee CEC hearing on December 9, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. Information regarding virtual access to the hearing, as well as any additional hearing information will be posted here at least 24 hours prior to the event.