M&A demonstrates that there is sufficient groundwater available to support a renewable energy project without significantly impacting nearby users.
Clients: Mohave Sun Power - Time frame: 2009–present
- Location: Mohave County, Arizona
M&A is providing hydrogeologic expertise to support the permitting and development of the proposed 340-MW Hualapai Valley Solar (HVS) project, which would be located in the northwest part of the state, near Kingman, Arizona. The HVS facility is one of the largest proposed concentrating solar plants (CSPs) in Arizona. Although HVS initially planned to use groundwater, it is evaluating the feasibility of incorporating treated effluent from Kingman’s Hilltop Reclaimed Wastewater Plant, which is slated for completion in 2011. Other renewable water supplies are also being evaluated.
A setback occurred on this project in late 2010. After extensive presentation of project plans by M&A and others, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), concluded that HVS had to rely on renewable water sources if is was to proceed. M&A is helping the project team as it evaluates alternate water sources.
M&A not only evaluated the adequacy and sustainability of groundwater supplies, but we also analyzed existing groundwater quality data to assess compatibility with the facility’s needs
M&A developed a comprehensive hydrologic model, which demonstrated that the proposed groundwater use would have an insignificant impact on the more than 15 million AF stored in the basin above a depth of 1,200 feet. The model also predicted that water levels would change by less than 1 foot in the surrounding populated areas if HVS pumped groundwater to meet all of its demands for 30 years. Although the project lies outside of an AMA, and is not subject to ADWR’s drawdown restrictions, modeling projected that use of groundwater was consistent with ADWR’s stringent drawdown criteria. One notable finding was the fact that HVS’ proposed groundwater use was actually about half of the use planned under a previous residential development scenario for the site.
The use of groundwater resources by HVS was identified as the highest concern of regulatory agencies and a vocal group of local citizens. M&A presented results of its investigation at hearings of both the Mohave County Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Supervisors, where the project received unanimous approval to proceed. We later provided 2 days of testimony to the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee regarding HVS’ application for a Certificate of Environmental Compliance; this body approved the application unanimously. Finally, M&A is working with the BLM and the Western Area Power Administration to prepare the water resources analysis for an EIS that addresses the transmission line route.
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