The proposed $1B Arida Solar Center was unanimously recommended for approval by the Laughlin Town Advisory Board.
Arida’s parent company, Avantus LLC,is proposing the development. Company officials said they intend to be a “long-term owner-operator.”
The proposed solar farm would be spread across roughly 4,000 acres of land at the southern end of Laughlin Township in Clark County. Project representatives expect the development to create around 600 construction jobs.
The site is a part of the Fort Mohave Development Area, and developers have been paying nearly $1M/year in lease payments to the Fort Mohave Development Fund.
Planning for the large-scale solar development began nearly a decade ago. Permits for the proposal were originally approved in 2018. Construction was delayed due to the pandemic and supply chain complications, and then the original permits expired.
The construction period is expected to last for 12 to 24 months. The solar center is expected to generate more than $350M in economic benefits over its lifetime. This includes the $45M in lease payments, $70M in property taxes and an additional $80M to the Clark County School District.
Construction will be carried out across two phases. This includes site preparation, solar panel installation, battery storage development and the creation of a line of 200-foot transmission towers.
Photovoltaic panels will be installed that will generate power. Power will then run through a connection to the existing power transmission infrastructure around the Mohave Generating Station. Developers have yet to determine who will use the power generated from the facility, but they are looking to sell the power to a utility.
The proposal then proceeded to the Clark County Zoning Commission meeting on Aug. 20, where it was unanimously approved. Construction is expected to begin next year and wrap up sometime in 2028. (Source)
