A wave of concern has crested through the rural community around Robles Junction after word spread of a proposed solar development that would cover roughly 5,554 acres in the Three Points area. The proposal came to light through local conservation groups, and farmers and neighbors have since held meetings to review maps of the plan and to weigh potential impacts on the landscape and livelihoods that define the region. Douglas Lowell, a farmer who sits on the board of the Altar Valley Conservation Alliance, began sharing the company’s map with neighbors and has led efforts to convene community discussions.
Map showing the proposed Three Points Solar Project area and its 5,554-acre boundary near Robles Junction, shared by a local farmer organizing meetings.
Lowell said he first learned about the plan through the conservation nonprofit and felt compelled to alert nearby residents. At community gatherings he described what he called the likely ecological consequences of converting an expanse of open, desert habitat to industrial-scale solar arrays. "This is going to be a huge loss of habitat. It's almost an ecological doomsday for eight square miles. All the trees will be gone. The animals will be gone," he said, naming mule deer, javelina and jackrabbits among the species he fears will be affected. He warned that organisms that live underground would also be lost and expressed skepticism about promises to restore the land once equipment is removed.
The concerns raised at the meetings have not been limited to wildlife and habitat. Longtime residents say they fear changes in land use would alter local zoning and lead to higher property tax assessments. Linda Saner, who has lived in Three Points for more than 50 years, said the current zoning is agricultural and that a conversion to industrial use would significantly shift the tax outlook for landowners. "The zoning right now is agriculture out here and it's going to change. If this happens it's going to be industrial, so that means everyone's property taxes are going to go through the roof," she said, calling the potential transformation of the landscape "sad."
Not everyone present at public discussions opposes the project. Some residents view the proposal as part of a broader transition away from fossil fuels and toward cleaner energy sources. Laura Balderson, who has lived in Three Points since 1993, said rising fuel costs and climate concerns make it necessary to pursue renewable options, even if they require making tradeoffs. "My thought is where do we begin with renewable energy? You know gas prices are over four dollars a gallon. Are we gonna keep doing that?" she asked. "We gotta start somewhere. We've gotta do something and make some sacrifices and people worry about the solar panels doing damage to the land and everything. How much damage is being done by exhaust fumes out of how many cars are here?"
Local elected officials participated in one of the community gatherings to hear residents' questions. Pima County District 3 Supervisor Jennifer Allen attended and told those assembled that, as of her review, the solar company had not submitted any formal filings to the county. She outlined that any application, when eventually submitted, would move through a detailed and extended review process at the county level. Allen urged residents to stay engaged and to continue organizing so that community priorities are clear to decision-makers. "So we have time. Nothing on any agenda. No decisions have been made," she said.
A 'Save Robles Junction' protest sign displayed at a community gathering opposing the proposed Three Points solar farm.
The tract targeted in the proposal is state trust land administered by the Arizona State Land Department, which controls leases and uses for these parcels. Representatives of the department were contacted about whether the agency would lease the state land to the solar company; the department said it would look into the request. The solar company itself did not respond to a request for additional information about the scope of the project or its timeline.
In response to the proposal, Lowell organized the Southern Arizona Open Space Alliance and has been publicizing meeting dates and times through that group. The alliance, and other local organizers, have been using community gatherings to distribute maps and to solicit feedback from neighbors who live near the proposed array. Those meetings have become the focal point for both opposition and support, bringing together residents who worry about ecological and fiscal impacts and those who say renewables are a necessary step away from fossil fuels.
The community remains in a fact-finding phase. Organizers and elected officials at the meetings emphasized that no county approvals are underway and that any formal application will trigger a public review process. In the meantime, residents have continued to meet to examine the map of the proposed development, discuss potential consequences for habitat and property values, and consider how to engage with state and county authorities should the project move forward. The Southern Arizona Open Space Alliance is maintaining a schedule of future meetings and information for neighbors seeking updates about the proposal.
According to the Southern Arizona Open Space Alliance at saveroblesjunction.com, the proposal involves up to 500 MW of solar power paired with battery storage on state trust land, with a developer neighborhood meeting set for August 12 at Fred's Arena and a follow-up community gathering on August 20 at Serenity Baptist Church. The group is promoting a petition and urging contact with Pima County Supervisor Jennifer Allen and the Arizona State Land Department over risks of permanent habitat fragmentation for species like mule deer and javelina.
The Southern Arizona Open Space Alliance's website says a July 23 community meeting was held at the Robles Ranch Community Center (16150 W Ajo Hwy) and lists the next public meeting for Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Robles Ranch Community Center.
The group's website also states that project proponents have indicated they may seek a rezoning vote as early as August 2026.
The site references the Arizona State Land Department's 'solar scores' map for the region and provides contact details for residents wanting to weigh in — Pima County Supervisor District 3 (District3@pima.gov, (520) 724-8051) and the Arizona State Land Department ((602) 542-4631).