Mesquite Solar 3
Maricopa County
Overview
- Reported capacity
- 150 MW
- EIA-reported operating capacity; nameplate, seasonal, AC/DC, and unit ratings may differ.
- Technology
- Solar Photovoltaic
- Primary generation technology.
- Registry anchor
- Plant 60308
- RWE Clean Energy · Maricopa County · CAISO
- Operating status
- Operating
- Grid connection
- Mesquite 230/500 kV Switchyard
- 500 kV · San Diego Gas & Electric Co.
Infrastructure record
- Alternate name
- Mesquite Solar 3
- Mapped facility footprint
- Mapped infrastructure footprint
Mapped infrastructure geometry associated with this asset.
- In service
- 2016-12
Profile
- Grid role
- Contracted utility-scale solar generation supplying renewable power for 14 Navy and Marine Corps installations.
- Grid connection
- Mesquite 230/500 kV Switchyard · 500 kV · San Diego Gas & Electric Co.
- Context
- Mesquite Solar 3 was selected for what the U.S.
Structured profile
- Reported capacity
- 150 MW
Solar Photovoltaic
- Operating status
- operating
Mesquite Solar 3, LLC is operating.
- Interconnection
- Mesquite 230/500 kV Switchyard
500 kV · San Diego Gas & Electric Co.
- Location
- Maricopa County
CAISO
- Operator
Generation and physical site
EIA plant 60308 · Inventory for Sep 2026.
Reported operating nameplate by technology
- Solar
- 150 MW
Generator records (1)
| Generator | Technology | Status | Power (MW) | Energy (MWh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solar Photovoltaic | Operating | 150 | Unknown |
- Physical map location · OpenStreetMap
- 33.34145, -112.95033
- Filed location · EIA
- 33.34758, -112.93680
Sources and observation dates
Questions answered by the public record
Why is SDG&E named on the Arizona Mesquite Solar 3 profile?
SDG&E is a party to Mesquite Solar 3’s CAISO interconnection arrangements. The Navy’s separate procurement agreement concerns renewable electricity for military installations. The transmission role does not establish that SDG&E owns the solar plant.
Related assets
Similar plants ranked by technology, capacity, and distance.
Units and generators
Current generator records and technology attributes reported through EIA-860.
| Generator | Capacity | Technology | Operation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 150 MW 150 MW summer | Solar Photovoltaic PV | Dec 2016 | Operating |
Performance
Monthly EIA generation history and recent market-resource behavior where linked telemetry is available.
Peer context
- Technology capacity
- 150 MW
- Solar Photovoltaic
- National rank
- #284
- of 7,597 operating peers
- AZ rank
- #21
- of 126 operating peers
Monthly generation
Download CSVLatest 12 months
436.9 GWh
Reported net generation
Latest report
Jul 2026
EIA-923 monthly filing
2025 capacity factor
33.7%
Using current reported nameplate capacity
Grid and market context
Deterministic links to ERCOT market resources, price records, outage disclosures, queue records, and nearby infrastructure. Candidate joins remain labeled until corroborated.
Market registration
CAISO resource registryCommercial, land, and environmental record
Source-backed project transactions, agreements, land records, permits, and environmental disclosures. Portfolio and adjacent-project facts remain explicitly scoped.
Transactions and agreements
Offtake
Jul 16, 2015
Fixed-price 25-year power purchase agreement signed July 16, 2015. Department of the Navy procured 210 MW DC of renewable power. Sempra U.S. Gas & Power to construct and operate the facility, with electricity supplied into the Western Area Power Administration grid for delivery to Navy and Marine Corps facilities. Pricing terms not disclosed.
210 MW contracted25 yearsDepartment of the Navy · Western Area Power Administration · Sempra U.S. Gas & Power
Land and environmental record
Environmental Permit Requirement
2011-2012
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality general construction stormwater permit; Notice of Intent expected before construction
DOE permit table lists ADEQ general construction stormwater permit with Notice of Intent to be filed at least 48 hours before construction.
Historical Land Ownership And Option
2011
Project land owned or controlled by Sempra, with one 160-acre Part 2 parcel subject to option to purchase
DOE assessment states Part 1 and Part 2 lands owned or controlled by Sempra, with 160-acre parcel on Part 2 subject to purchase option. Historical project-level land-rights information, not Phase 3-specific deed.
Overall Project Land Area
2011
Broader Mesquite Solar project envelope comprises approximately 3,760 acres of private land (2,480 acres Part 1 and 1,280 acres Part 2)
DOE environmental assessment describes two adjacent parcels totaling 3,760 acres. This acreage covers the broader proposed Mesquite Solar Energy Project and is not solely attributable to Mesquite Solar 3.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention And Waste Controls
2011
Secondary containment for transformers and inverters; transformers contain mineral oil and inverters cooling liquid, identified as stormwater pollutants; Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan required
DOE assessment identifies transformers and inverters with potential stormwater pollutants and states transformers have full secondary containment. SPCC plan would be prepared. Construction would generate limited hazardous and solid waste.
Water Supply And Wastewater Infrastructure
2011
Water sourced from existing on-site groundwater wells for non-potable needs (panel cleaning, irrigation, dust control); up to 500 acre-feet annually; no permanent potable-water or wastewater system planned
DOE assessment states water from existing on-site wells, up to 500 acre-feet annually required, and no wastewater or potable-water systems developed. Evidence does not identify Phase 3-specific well, withdrawal permit, or discharge permit.
Related parties and identifiers
Parties, market resources, and identifiers tied to this asset, with owner, operator, developer, EPC, compliance provider, and interconnecting entity roles kept separate.
Relationship graph
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AssetOwner / operatorOrganizationRelated asset
Timeline and sources
Project milestones and public references behind the asset profile.
Project timeline
- Navy Renewable-Energy AgreementDepartment ...
The Navy signed a 25-year public-private agreement to procure 210 MW DC of renewable power from the Mesquite Solar 3 facility.
- Generator enters operation