TUCSON, AZ (August 30, 2024) – Wilmot Energy Center II, LLC, an affiliate of Florida-based NextEra Energy, bought a 1,076-acre solar site at Andrada Road and Wilmot Road in Tucson for $14 million ($13,011 per acre / $0.30 PSF). This will be the company’s second solar site in Tucson.

The seller was an affiliate of Diamond Venture, and the buyer was Wilmot Energy Center II, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy.

The Wilmot Energy Center, the first 100-megawatt AC photovoltaic project with 30MW of linked battery storage, began operations in June 2023. It was constructed by the same developer, NextEra Energy Resources, on 1,130 acres at 11425 S Swan Road in Tucson.

With Tucson’s newest and largest solar power system online at Wilmot Energy Center, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) can deliver more solar energy than ever before – including when the sun isn’t shining.

The Wilmot Energy Center II project will also feature:

• Photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays generate up to 100 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy.
• A $314 Million Project investment that will create 200 construction jobs.
• The project is scheduled to begin operations by May 2025, subject to local and state approvals.

For decades, NextEra Energy Resources’ subsidiaries have been helping fuel America’s economic growth and quality of life and moving our nation toward energy independence. The company and its subsidiaries operate solar projects in 29 states and five projects in Arizona.

Both solar farms will serve Tucson Electric Power customers. Rising from the desert floor south of the city, it is now churning out clean energy while the sun shines—and even when it doesn’t.

The batteries are charged by 314,000 solar panels at Wilmot Energy Center that can track the sun’s movement for increased production. On most days, TEP will charge the battery in the morning and early afternoon when solar resources are most productive, then deliver stored energy during peak usage. The WEC will produce enough power over a year to serve the annual electric needs of about 26,000 homes.

The Wilmot Energy Center is key to TEP’s plan to reach 70% renewable energy generation by 2035.

The battery system allows TEP to bank power for the late afternoon and early evening summer hours of peak demand when power production from photovoltaic panels starts fading with the sun.

TEP installed its first two 10MW battery systems in 2017 and plans to expand to more than 1,400MW by 2035.

Power from the Wilmot Energy Center is relatively cheap. In 2017, TEP made industrywide news when it announced that it would buy Wilmot’s solar power for less than 3 cents per kilowatt hour, or under 4.5 cents with battery power included—an industry low at the time.

BUCKEYE, AZ (Aug. 30, 2024) — Tract, a developer of master-planned data center parks, has announced its acquisition of a 2,069-acre land parcel in Buckeye, Arizona. The land acquisition will be one of the largest data center parks in the United States, anticipating up to 20 million square feet of data center space across as many as 40 individual data centers at full build-out. Tract is currently working with the local utility on plans for long-term growth with new power infrastructure, which could support up to 1.8GW.

The 2,069-acre parcel near Buckeye Airport sold for over $136 million. It was originally zoned for a master-planned community called Cipriani, but the sellers, Cipriani Holdings, LLC, rezoned it for industrial use.

Phoenix is consistently recognized as one of the top three data center markets in the United States.  Buckeye, located in Maricopa County, is the westernmost suburb in the Phoenix metropolitan area and is Arizona’s largest city by area. Tract worked closely with city officials to identify the ideal location for the technology park to create a planned path for data center growth that also ensures the best outcomes for the community.

“This project represents a major milestone for Buckeye. Through our collaboration with Tract, we’ve positioned Buckeye to host one of the country’s largest data center technology parks, driving substantial revenue and ensuring a thriving, sustainable future. By identifying land near the airport, we replaced an outdated planned community with a decades-long plan for economic growth,” said Eric Orsborn, Mayor of Buckeye, Arizona. “Projects of this size require a well thought out, executable plan, especially when analyzing the infrastructure needs of communities, and we are pleased that this project reduces water demand, preserves natural spaces, and creates hundreds of high-paying jobs.”

Buckeye is emerging as a strategic energy hub. It is home to Kore Power’s KOREPlex lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility and Fortescue’s recently announced green hydrogen production facility, as well as the Palo Verde generating station. As such, Buckeye presents a natural expansion path for existing data centers to grow within the Phoenix market over the coming decade.

“We have conviction that the Greater Phoenix market will continue to play a critical role in hyperscale data center networks,” explained Grant van Rooyen, CEO of Tract. “We especially appreciate the engagement and partnership from Mayor Orsborn, City Council and Staff through this process.”

The land acquisition was the result of a 24-month, collaborative effort between Tract and representatives from the state of Arizona, city of Buckeye and Anita Verma-Lallian, CEO of Arizona Land Consulting, who represented the seller, Cipriani Holdings, LLC, on the transaction.

With the acquisition of this site, Tract adds to its portfolio of master-planned, zoned, powered land tailored to the scale that will be required for future data center campuses. Tract has over 23,000 acres under control across the country, including:

• Arizona: 2,069 acres in Maricopa County
• Nevada: 11,000 acres in Storey County
• Utah: 668 Acres in Utah County
• Virginia: 1,200 acres in Hanover County

Tract is headquartered in Denver, CO, and works with communities across the U.S.

TUCSON, AZ (August 30, 2024) — Pueblo Vida Brewing Company will soon be expanding, having purchased the adjoining 2,638-square-foot building at 40 S Arizona Ave, Tucson, next to their current space at 115 E Broadway Blvd. in downtown Tucson.

The building sold for $300,000 ($114 PSF) on August 27.

The seller, RSVP Franklin Partners, LLC, was represented by Heather Baron and Mike Stilb of M.A.S. Real Estate Services.

Broadway Downtown, LLC, the buyer, was represented by Anne Peters and Curt Stinson of Engel & Volkers.

Located in Downtown Tucson, Pueblo Vida Brewing Company creates an authentic beer-drinking experience by brewing unique and world-inspired beer styles that are locally crafted with the highest quality ingredients with a passion for brewing that strives for quality, uniqueness, and repeatability.

The brewery and taproom space was built in 1918, and we immediately envisioned its grand potential. Ninety-six years of add-ons, including plaster over the red bricks, a drop ceiling covering the old-growth Mt. Lemmon pine, and painted hardwood fir floors, were all uncovered so the building’s original craftsmanship could be seen again. We worked hard to bring back its original luster and create a place where you can feel at home.

The Brewery will have extended Taproom hours for the Labor Day Weekend, Fri, Aug 30, 2024 12:00 PM  – Mon, Sep 2, 2024 7:00 PM.

Pueblo Vida Brewing Company will have special Taproom Hours for the loooong weekend, so come hang!

• Friday 8/30: 12-10 PM
• Saturday 8/31: 12-10 PM
• Sunday 9/1: 12-10 PM
• Monday 9/2: 12-9 PM

For more information on this sale, Baron and Stilb can be reached at 520.888.5127 and Peters and Stinson are at 520.954.5800.

To learn more, see RED Comps #11455