The Black Rock solar project remains under development in Yakima County, Washington, despite missing its original construction and operational targets. Developer BayWa r.e. currently describes the proposed utility-scale solar facility as a 127MW development.
This represents a difference from the original 94MW capacity reported when Yakima County approved its conditional use permit in 2022. However, the developer has not announced a confirmed construction start date or commercial operation date on its current project page.
The project originally targeted construction in spring 2023. Its development schedule depended on securing a power purchaser and resolving transmission infrastructure arrangements. Those requirements delayed the anticipated construction program.
BayWa r.e. continues to list the project as under development. Therefore, the available information does not support describing the facility as under construction or operational.
Black Rock Solar Project retains its Yakima County development plans
The project is located approximately 20 miles east of Moxee, near State Route 24 and the Rattlesnake Hills. Its original proposal covered approximately 1,060 acres, with solar panels occupying a smaller portion of the site.
The 2022 proposal involved installing approximately 264,000 photovoltaic panels. At the time, the developer projected a generation capacity of 94MW, enough to supply electricity to approximately 20,000 homes annually.
Yakima County Hearing Examiner Gary Cuillier approved the conditional use permit in 2022. The approval included conditions covering environmental protection, site access, stormwater management and construction safety.
The developer must also address sensitive natural and cultural resources across the property. In addition, the county required a final site plan identifying solar arrays, electrical infrastructure, internal roads and other project facilities.
The approval also requires appropriate permits before construction activities begin. These include building, fire safety, access connection and stormwater approvals.
Black Rock Solar Project faces power connection requirements
The project’s earlier delays highlighted the importance of securing an electricity purchaser and coordinating grid infrastructure. BayWa r.e. previously identified negotiations with a potential offtaker and substation relocation requirements as factors affecting its schedule.
In 2023, the developer indicated that PacifiCorp wanted adjustments to the proposed substation location. The change aimed to improve coordination with other planned solar developments using regional transmission infrastructure.
The company expected those issues to delay the project by approximately one year. However, its earlier forecast of a September 2025 opening did not materialize in the available project updates.
The current 127MW description also requires clarification. BayWa r.e. has not publicly explained the difference between this capacity and the original 94MW proposal. Consequently, the updated figure should not be interpreted as evidence of a completed redesign or revised county approval.
Washington continues to attract proposals for large-scale energy infrastructure. The state’s development pipeline includes solar generation, battery storage and other energy-intensive industrial projects.
The proposed Hanford Clean Energy Hub is another significant development opportunity in Washington. The US Department of Energy is seeking private investors for energy infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, computing facilities and critical materials processing at the former nuclear production site. The initiative illustrates the wider investment interest in expanding the state’s energy and industrial capacity.
Development plans and conditions for the Black Rock Solar Project
The Black Rock Solar Project will be developed on a 1,060-acre site, located 20 miles east of Moxee and north of the Rattlesnake Hills. This will be a 94 megawatts solar project, designed with the capacity to power 20,000 homes per annum, and it will involve the installation of about 264,000 solar panels spread across the entire site.
Reinhardt also pointed out that the project was aligned with the state’s goal of having utilities produce 100% renewable or zero-carbon energy by 2045.
Also Read Plans Underway for Implementation of Baltimore City Community Solar Project, Maryland, USA
There were about 17 conditions included by hearing examiner Cuillier in his approval of the Black Rock Solar Project, which was mostly concerned with avoiding sensitive environmental areas on the project’s 1,060-acre development site and securing proper permits during the construction phase.
He also stated that the installation of solar arrays was necessary to prevent glare from extending beyond the boundaries of the property and affecting drivers commuting along State Route 24. The conditions included installing the electrical cables underground.
At the public hearing, BayWa.r.e. Solar reported that it had identified up to 640 acres of usable area for the Black Rock Solar Project, which is separate from the sensitive natural and cultural resources located on the site, and about 60% of the 1,060-acre site will be occupied by panels for the power plant.
Also read: Cascade Advanced Energy Project: $2bn+ Energy Northwest Nuclear Plant to Deliver 320MW in Washington
Project Fact Sheet
Project: Black Rock Solar Project
Location: Yakima County, Washington, USA
Developer: BayWa r.e. Solar Projects LLC
Current developer-listed capacity: 127MW
Original proposed capacity: 94MW
Original site area: Approximately 1,060 acres
Panel proposal: Approximately 264,000 photovoltaic panels
Original approval: Conditional use permit issued in 2022
Construction status: Under development
Original construction target: Spring 2023
Original operational target: 2024
Current construction start date: Not announced
Project cost: Not announced
Project Team
Developer: BayWa r.e. Solar Projects LLC
Local permitting authority: Yakima County
Hearing examiner: Gary Cuillier
Grid infrastructure provider: PacifiCorp
Leave a Reply