Gillespie

Maps

Arizona Variance Areas	Gillespie SEZ
Letter (1.84 MB)  Poster (3.48 MB)	Letter (305 KB)

SEZ Analysis

 Gillespie SEZ Analysis: Draft PEIS

(3.6 MB)

 SEZ Action Plans from the Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS

(13.2 MB)

The proposed Gillespie solar energy zone (SEZ) is located in Arizona in a semiarid basin with undeveloped scrubland. The proposed SEZ is located on BLM-administered land within the Lower Sonoran Field Office.

Size and Location

The proposed Gillespie SEZ has a total area of 2,618 acres (11 km²). No changes were made to the boundaries of the Gillespie SEZ in the Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS, and no non-development areas were identified within the SEZ. The Supplement proposed limiting allowable solar technologies within the SEZ to photovoltaic systems with height of panels no greater than 10 ft (3.3 m), or technologies with comparable or lower heights and reflectivity.

The proposed Gillespie SEZ is located in Maricopa County in west-central Arizona. The SEZ is located to the southeast of the Harquahala Basin, in a valley between Gila Bend Mountains to the southwest and Centennial Wash to the northeast. In 2008, the county population was 3,958,263. The nearest town of Arlington is located about 7 mi (11 km) northeast of the SEZ.

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Physical Characteristics

Land within the proposed Gillespie SEZ is undeveloped scrubland characteristic of a semiarid desert valley. Vegetation within the SEZ is predominantly creosotebush and other low shrubs, with areas of dark, volcanic rock. Several intermittent washes run through the SEZ in a southwest to northeast direction. Annual rainfall is less than 8 in. (20 cm).

The proposed SEZ is undeveloped and rural, and contains a graded, county gravel road and other unpaved roads, and fencing. Part of the SEZ is authorized by the BLM for grazing.

The Palo Verde nuclear power plant, three natural gas power plants, a railroad, transmission lines, and a pipeline right-of-way are located in the surrounding area, which has few permanent residences.

Technical Suitability

The nearest major road access to the SEZ is via Old U.S. 80, which runs north-south 3 mi (5 km) from the eastern tip of the Gillespie SEZ. A 500‑kV transmission line runs within 0.5 mi (0.8 km) of the proposed SEZ. There were no pending solar project applications within the proposed SEZ as of August 2011.