Mila Besich, Mayor of the Town of Superior, has long been an outspoken advocate for the rural community, championing its historic roots and future economic potential. As Superior continues to grow and support current and burgeoning industries, access to reliable and affordable energy has become an essential need, one that Besich is proactively addressing.
The Town has proposed the construction of a Battery Electric Storage System (BESS) in partnership with Salt River Project (SRP), one of Arizona’s largest and oldest utilities, currently providing water and energy services to more than two million people in central Arizona. The facility, when completed, will be capable of producing 100-150 MW for four hours at a time – enough to power more than 25,000 homes during peak demand on summer evenings.
Arizona, one of the top three states in the U.S. in terms of deployed, utility-scale battery storage, already has nearly 3,900 MW of operational battery storage statewide, with plans to nearly double this portfolio by 2026.
A major benefit of the BESS setup is it can be charged when demand is low and power is less expensive and utilized when demand and energy costs are high. This approach improves reliability and saves money on the power homes and businesses need. With the BESS, the Town will directly benefit from emission-free energy, construction jobs and millions of dollars in lease revenue over the life of the project.
This latest move by the Town and Besich is a major milestone is preparing the community for future growth, sustainability and business attraction.
