San Manuel, AZ
Ore Town Solar
A proposed clean energy project in San Manuel, AZ
Converting a former industrial ore processing site into a clean energy facility
Ore Town Solar is a proposed clean energy project under development on private land in San Manuel, an unincorporated community in Pinal County.
Ore Town would feature a 145 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) facility and a 145 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to help meet Arizona’s growing energy needs. The batteries would store electricity generated from the solar panels and deliver clean energy to the grid during periods of high demand.
Proposed project area is near the community of San Manuel, east of South Veterans Memorial Boulevard. The project would connect to the regional electrical grid via a short (less than 1 mile) generation-tie (“gen-tie”) line at the San Manuel Substation.
Project Snapshot
LOCATION
San Manuel, AZ, on a portion of the decommissioned San Manuel Copper Mine
SOLAR PV CAPACITY
Up to 145MWac, producing enough clean energy to power an estimated 35,000 Arizona homes.
PROJECT SIZE
Approximately 1,200 acres of previously disturbed land.
DEVELOPER
Avantus
POTENTIAL JOB IMPACT
Up to 200 well-paying construction jobs, with local hires prioritized.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Sponsorships and contributions in partnership with local organizations to support facilities, programs, and services in San Manuel and Pinal County.
STATUS
The project is moving through the permitting process and is currently scheduled for construction in 2026-2027.
Recent Updates
Open House
This spring, Avantus is hosting an open house for Ore Town Solar at the San Manuel Community Center. Please stop by to learn more about the project and speak with Avantus representatives.
Ore Town Solar Open House
May 20th, 2025 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM
San Manuel Community Center
111 West 5th Avenue, San Manuel, Arizona 85631
Community Partnerships
Avantus is committed to being a good neighbor, which means taking the time to understand San Manuel's values and needs and identifying opportunities to contribute in meaningful ways. We believe that local communities should benefit from businesses operating in the area. As the project progresses, we are excited to support and partner with local organizations in San Manuel and Pinal County.
So far, we have partnered with the San Manuel Revitalization Coalition on key projects including the Annual Holiday Craft Fair and the San Manuel High School Graduation Party. We have also partnered with the San Manuel Elks Lodge to provide scholarships to students at San Manuel High School.
We're actively working to find additional opportunities to increase our contributions and provide benefits to the community of San Manuel. Please share your thoughts with us here.
Visual Simulations
Avantus recently created additional visual simulations to show the minimal visual impact of the project in more detail. These include a drive-through simulation (with aerial views) traveling on S Veterans Memorial Blvd and a 360-degree viewpoint from S Veterans Memorial Blvd. View the visual simulations for more info.
Local Benefits
Avantus has deep experience in developing utility-scale solar energy projects in the Western United States. With every project, we strive to collaborate with nearby communities to advance meaningful benefits for community members.
Community Involvement
We believe that local communities should benefit from development in the area. As the project progresses, we are excited to partner with local organizations that support the San Manuel community. Share ideas with us here.
Economic Opportunities
Over its operating life, Ore Town Solar is estimated to generate tens of millions in tax revenue for the County and local districts, including Mammoth San-Manuel Unified School District and the fire district.
Environment
The site was selected to minimize potential impacts to wildlife and other natural resources. The project is estimated to offset 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year, equivalent to taking 65,000 cars off the road.
Solar Makes a Good Neighbor
A utility-scale solar facility has a low-height profile, generates no emissions or odors, produces minimal noise, and uses only small amounts of water.
Long, continuous rows of solar panels will be installed behind an existing security fence, with the panels rotating throughout the day.
Their height typically ranges between 6 to 10 feet above the ground, depending on the angle of rotation.
The battery systems are housed in modular metal structures that resemble standard shipping containers.
Once constructed, little to no daily traffic would be produced.
Please see the visual simulations for a better sense of Ore Town’s visual impact.
Visual simulation of Ore Town Solar from South Veterans Memorial Blvd looking southeast.
About Avantus
Avantus is a leading developer of solar and energy storage projects. Our team is committed to building safe, high quality and sustainable projects in partnership with utilities, landowners, communities, and other key stakeholders. We have developed over two dozen solar projects across the Western United States and Texas. These projects have created thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities and continue to generate tens of millions of dollars in local tax revenue. We are proud of the relationships we’ve built and the track record we’ve earned and hope to expand upon this success with Ore Town Solar.