ED3’s previously announced energy goals of having 100 megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy resources by its 100th anniversary in 2026 is on target for achieving the milestone in the late 4th quarter of 2025.

ED3 staff recently toured the Apache Solar II project, located in Cochise, Arizona, at the AEPCO Apache Generating Station (Apache) to see the construction progress including the Tesla battery energy storage system. The project will span more than 1,300 acres when complete and provide 235 MW of Solar and 940 MWh of battery energy storage. This resource will help diversify ED3’s power supply portfolio through a subscription agreement where ED3 will add approximately 38 megawatts of solar and 152 MWh of battery energy storage from the project. Apache Solar II along with the Box Canyon Solar project will provide just over 100 MW of new solar resources for ED3’s portfolio in 2025 just in time for ED3’s 100th anniversary in 2026.

The Apache Solar II project is part of Arizona Electric Power Cooperative’s (AEPCO) Reliable Energy Plan for offering solar and battery storage resources to its members throughout the Desert Southwest. The project is anticipated to begin commercial operations in mid-December 2025.