'Leave us alone': Three Points neighbors oppose potential solar farm

For people who live, ranch, work and spend time in Three Points, a proposed solar and battery project could change how they use thousands of acres near Robles Junction along Ajo Highway. More than 100 residents attended a meeting Wednesday to hear Repsol explain its plans for Three Points Solar. Instead, many neighbors used the gathering to voice strong opposition, saying the development could displace grazing, limit access to familiar riding areas, threaten desert habitat and raise questions about water in a community where residents rely on wells.

The project is being proposed by CG Three Points LLC, a developer operating under Repsol. Plans call for a 500 megawatt solar and battery storage facility spanning 5,554 acres. Repsol says the completed project could produce enough electricity each year for more than 124,000 Arizona homes. The company also says construction would create hundreds of jobs and that the development would provide additional money for local schools and the fire department. Those promises did not persuade many residents at the meeting, who said the costs to their community would outweigh the potential benefits.

Neighbors described Three Points as a place they selected specifically for its open space, quiet surroundings, night skies and desert landscape. Melissa Tautimes said residents moved there to enjoy fresh air, views of the stars and moon, and the area’s natural beauty. She argued that covering the land with panels would fundamentally alter the character that drew people to the community. Jessie Sager similarly rejected the idea that residents were simply opposing economic opportunity, saying Three Points already has jobs and that many retired or disabled residents, including veterans, deliberately moved away from the city.

The land is owned by the Arizona State Land Department, which controls its use, and it has not yet been leased to Repsol. The department said the company has two applications in the early stages. The first, application 03-122658, was filed under the name Connect Gen, or CG, Three Points on October 4, 2021, and covered 3,828 acres. A second application, filed under CG Three Points LLC on May 16, 2023, covered another 1,726 acres. Together, those areas correspond to the acreage identified for the proposed project.

The state said Repsol has submitted a draft cultural resource study covering both applications, but has not provided the other required due diligence materials. That means the proposal remains well short of a completed state land lease. The land is currently managed for grazing, a use that ranchers and other residents fear could disappear if the solar facility moves forward. Sager also described residents’ concerns about losing access to areas used for horseback riding, including a trail along a power line, and questioned where people could safely go if large portions of the landscape became restricted or prohibited areas.

Environmental and water concerns were also central to the opposition. Sager cited Gila monsters, saguaros, pineapple cactus, tarantulas and rattlesnakes as examples of wildlife and protected desert resources that could be affected. She said Three Points residents depend on wells and are worried about the project’s water use. Kristina Hernandez, who moved to the community in December, expressed similar concerns, saying the company’s connection to Spain does not mean its representatives understand the local desert, wildlife, sunsets or underground water. Her fear is that development could damage a water supply residents consider especially valuable.

Pima County would have a role before construction could begin, but county officials said the company has not submitted a proposal. District 3 Supervisor Jennifer Allen said Repsol has been meeting with county staff to learn what will be required and that the company would eventually need to provide a detailed plan explaining what it wants to build, where it would be located and how it would operate. Depending on the project’s zoning and land use requirements, the developer could need a rezoning or use permit. The State Land Department said county zoning can take up to 18 months and that state authorization is required before an applicant seeks local zoning or permits.

The next steps therefore include additional work by Repsol, state review and potentially a lengthy county process. The State Land Department said an applicant must secure required zoning before a state lease auction, and Allen said residents will have opportunities to participate as the proposal advances. She also indicated that votes could occur through zoning proceedings and before the Pima County Board of Supervisors. Allen said community involvement can strengthen residents’ ability to protect what they value, making the concerns raised at Wednesday’s meeting part of the formal process rather than a final decision on the project.

Three Points residents are planning a follow-up meeting for August 19 at 6 p.m. at Serenity Baptist Church, although organizers said the details could change. Information is available through saveroblesjunction.com. For opponents, the meeting is another opportunity to organize around preserving grazing land, wildlife habitat, water security and access to the open desert. For Repsol, the project still faces significant procedural requirements before it could receive a lease or county approval, leaving the future of the 5,554 acres unresolved.