The Goodyear City Council approved a special use permit for a sprawling solar energy and battery storage project in south Goodyear that is expected to generate millions of dollars in tax revenue and hundreds of construction jobs.
The council voted 6-1 to approve Resolution No. 2026-2537 for the Desert Rainbow Solar Project, a utility-scale solar energy generation facility planned on approximately 5,050 acres south of Queen Creek Road and east of Waterman Wash. Councilmember Benita Beckles cast the lone dissenting vote.
The project will include photovoltaic solar panels, a battery energy storage system, electrical infrastructure, a collector substation and at least one operations and maintenance building…