<p>在最近一次从洛杉矶飞往凤凰城的航班上，我透过窗户向外望去，飞机缓缓降落在城市西侧的开阔沙漠上。景观突然从无尽的灌木丛转变为一片延伸至地平线的镜面矩形。我拍了几张照片，手机的 GPS 后来确认了我所看到的：位于亚利桑那州阿灵顿的梅斯基特太阳能综合体——美国最大的光伏发电设施之一。</p>
<p>从空中俯瞰，该地点看起来像是一幅巨大的几何挂毯。在地面上，它代表着更重要的意义：公用事业规模太阳能技术从小众技术逐渐演变为美国发电组合的核心组成部分。</p>
<p><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.rrapier.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mesquite-Solar-1013x1024.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.rrapier.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mesquite-Solar-1013x1024.png"/></p>
<p><strong>位于亚利桑那州阿灵顿的梅斯基特太阳能综合体。照片由罗伯特·拉皮尔提供。</strong></p>
<h3><strong>公用事业规模太阳能的里程碑</strong></h3>
<p>梅斯基特太阳能综合体始于 2011 年，并通过五个连续的发展阶段不断壮大。如今，该设施提供约 530 兆瓦（MW）的太阳能容量，配备 70 MW / 280 兆瓦时（MWh）的电池系统。这个组合足以每年为约 150,000 个家庭供电，具体取决于天气条件和地区需求。</p>
<p>所有权随着时间的推移而发生变化。该项目最初由桑普拉能源启动，后来被合并爱迪生发展公司收购并扩展，现在由 RWE 清洁能源运营。所有者的阵容本身就讲述了一个故事。随着大型太阳能的经济性和性能稳定，全球公用事业和基础设施投资者越来越将梅斯基特等资产视为长期战略持有。</p>
<p>梅斯基特在融资方面也颇具特色。初始阶段获得了美国能源部 3.37 亿美元的贷款担保。当时，大规模光伏电站仍在证明其可靠性和财务可行性。证明此类项目能够提供稳定的输出并确保长期合同，帮助为后续数百个公用事业规模项目打开了大门。</p>
<h3><strong>从空中可见的扩展</strong></h3>
<p>我从飞机上看到的施工并不是海市蜃楼。梅斯基特仍在扩展。</p>
<p>在 2024 年，RWE 在该地点新增了一个 52.5 MW 的太阳能项目和一个 10 MW（40 MWh）的电池系统。围绕该综合体的其他地块也已获得公用事业规模太阳能开发的批准。马里科帕县在 2025 年中批准了现有地点西侧的新太阳能容量的土地使用变更，为进一步增长提供了空间。</p>
<p>就在南侧，阿灵顿太阳能发电厂的建设仍在继续——这是一个 376 MW 的项目，计划于 2025 年底完成。尽管技术上是独立的，但它作为围绕阿灵顿谷的更大太阳能设施集群的一部分运作。</p>
<p>综合来看，这些新增项目指向一个长期愿景：如果计划的阶段顺利推进，梅斯基特综合体及其邻近项目最终可能接近 750 MW 的总太阳能容量。这将使该地区成为全国最大的太阳能中心之一。</p>
<h3><strong>梅斯基特的重要性</strong></h3>
<p>梅斯基特综合体不仅在空中视觉上令人印象深刻，还有几个重要原因。</p>
<p><strong>电网可靠性：</strong> 电池安装使运营商能够平滑间歇性，并将电力转移到更高价值的晚间时段，提高了整个地区的电网稳定性。</p>
<p><strong>区域定位：</strong> 亚利桑那州强大的太阳能资源和靠近加利福尼亚的地理位置，使阿灵顿谷的设施有机会服务于面临高需求和严格排放要求的负荷中心。</p>
<p><strong>经济影响：</strong> 建设工作、土地租赁支付和财产税收入为当地社区提供了稳定的收益，尽管太阳能设施需要适度的永久性员工。</p>
<h3><strong>2026 年及以后的挑战</strong></h3>
<p>梅斯基特的持续扩展并未使其免受可再生能源开发面临的更广泛压力：</p>
<ul>
<li>关税和设备成本正在提高项目预算，复杂化新阶段的融资。</li>
<li>西南地区的输电限制限制了可以出口到邻州的电力数量。</li>
<li>大规模能源资产的保险费大幅上涨，给整个行业的利润带来了压力。</li>
<li>索诺兰沙漠的水资源短缺迫使开发者依赖节水的清洁方法，但在多尘时期可能会降低产出。</li>
<li>互联互通的延迟仍然很长，减缓了新项目上线的速度。</li>
</ul>
<p>这些限制说明了国家目标与实现这些目标所需基础设施之间的差距。</p>
<h3><strong>不断演变的能源格局的象征</strong></h3>
<p>从 30,000 英尺的高度，梅斯基特太阳能综合体视觉上引人注目。从背景来看，它代表着更深刻的意义：太阳能从试点项目转变为重要基础设施。阿灵顿谷周围正在进行的建设强调了这一转变并非理论上的——它正在实时发生。</p>
<p>然而，该行业面临着真正的挑战。不断上升的成本、监管不确定性和地缘政治紧张局势可能会在电力需求再次上升时减缓投资。梅斯基特展示了协调规划、融资和执行可以实现的目标，但也突显了持续关注电网升级和政策明确性将决定类似项目能多快跟进。</p>
<h3><strong>结论</strong></h3>
<p>我从飞机窗户看到的不仅仅是一个单一项目——它是一个不断增长的太阳能走廊。梅斯基特太阳能综合体及其邻近开发项目展示了西南地区如何迅速成为公用事业规模可再生能源的焦点。2026 年的问题是，美国能否在成本上升和电网限制增加的情况下保持这一势头。答案将不仅影响亚利桑那州的能源结构，还将影响未来几年全国更广泛的转型。</p>
<hr/>
<p><em>更多来自该作者的文章：</em></p>
<p>为何 OPEC+ 在石油市场的影响力正在减弱</p>
<p>莫斯科的警告信号：战争开支导致能源收入下降</p>
<p>关税如何推高石油和天然气的成本</p>

桑普拉能源

<p>位于亚利桑那州阿灵顿的梅斯基特太阳能综合体是一个大型公用事业规模的太阳能设施，提供 530 兆瓦的太阳能容量，并配备 70 兆瓦的电池系统。最初由桑普拉能源启动，目前由 RWE 清洁能源运营。该综合体正在扩展，计划达到 750 兆瓦。它在电网可靠性、区域定位和经济影响方面发挥着关键作用。然而，关税、传输限制和水资源短缺等挑战依然存在。该综合体象征着太阳能向重要基础设施的转型，尽管面临成本上升和监管不确定性</p>

<p>On a recent flight from Los Angeles to Phoenix, I glanced out the window as the aircraft slowly descended over the open desert west of the city. The landscape shifted abruptly from endless scrubland to an expanse of mirrored rectangles stretching to the horizon. I took several pictures, and my phone’s GPS later confirmed what I was seeing: the Mesquite Solar Complex in Arlington, Arizona—one of the largest photovoltaic installations in the United States.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>在最近一次从洛杉矶飞往凤凰城的航班上，我透过窗户向外望去，飞机缓缓降落在城市西侧的开阔沙漠上。景观突然从无尽的灌木丛转变为一片延伸至地平线的镜面矩形。我拍了几张照片，手机的 GPS 后来确认了我所看到的：位于亚利桑那州阿灵顿的梅斯基特太阳能综合体——美国最大的光伏发电设施之一。</p>
</div><p>From above, the site resembles an enormous geometric tapestry. On the ground, it represents something more significant: the steady evolution of utility-scale solar from a niche technology to a central component of America’s generating fleet.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>从空中俯瞰，该地点看起来像是一幅巨大的几何挂毯。在地面上，它代表着更重要的意义：公用事业规模太阳能技术从小众技术逐渐演变为美国发电组合的核心组成部分。</p>
</div><p><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.rrapier.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mesquite-Solar-1013x1024.png" alt="" original-src="https://www.rrapier.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mesquite-Solar-1013x1024.png"/></p>
<p><strong>The Mesquite Solar Complex in Arlington, Arizona. Photo by Robert Rapier.</strong></p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p><strong>位于亚利桑那州阿灵顿的梅斯基特太阳能综合体。照片由罗伯特·拉皮尔提供。</strong></p>
</div><h3><strong>A Landmark in Utility-Scale Solar</strong></h3>
<div class="lb-trans"><h3><strong>公用事业规模太阳能的里程碑</strong></h3>
</div><p>The Mesquite Solar Complex began in 2011 and has grown through five sequential development phases. Today, the facility delivers roughly 530 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity, supported by a 70 MW / 280 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery system. That combination is enough to power about 150,000 homes each year, depending on weather conditions and regional demand.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>梅斯基特太阳能综合体始于 2011 年，并通过五个连续的发展阶段不断壮大。如今，该设施提供约 530 兆瓦（MW）的太阳能容量，配备 70 MW / 280 兆瓦时（MWh）的电池系统。这个组合足以每年为约 150,000 个家庭供电，具体取决于天气条件和地区需求。</p>
</div><p>Ownership has shifted over time. The project was initially launched by Sempra Generation, later acquired and expanded by Consolidated Edison Development, and now operated by RWE Clean Energy. The lineup of owners tells its own story. As the economics and performance of large-scale solar have stabilized, global utilities and infrastructure investors increasingly view assets like Mesquite as long-term strategic holdings.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>所有权随着时间的推移而发生变化。该项目最初由桑普拉能源启动，后来被合并爱迪生发展公司收购并扩展，现在由 RWE 清洁能源运营。所有者的阵容本身就讲述了一个故事。随着大型太阳能的经济性和性能稳定，全球公用事业和基础设施投资者越来越将梅斯基特等资产视为长期战略持有。</p>
</div><p>Mesquite was also noteworthy for how it was financed. The initial phase received a $337 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy. At the time, large-scale PV plants were still proving their reliability and financial viability. Demonstrating that such projects could deliver consistent output and secure long-term contracts helped open the door for the hundreds of utility-scale projects that followed.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>梅斯基特在融资方面也颇具特色。初始阶段获得了美国能源部 3.37 亿美元的贷款担保。当时，大规模光伏电站仍在证明其可靠性和财务可行性。证明此类项目能够提供稳定的输出并确保长期合同，帮助为后续数百个公用事业规模项目打开了大门。</p>
</div><h3><strong>Expansion Visible From the Air</strong></h3>
<div class="lb-trans"><h3><strong>从空中可见的扩展</strong></h3>
</div><p>The construction I thought I spotted from the plane wasn’t a mirage. Mesquite is still expanding.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>我从飞机上看到的施工并不是海市蜃楼。梅斯基特仍在扩展。</p>
</div><p>In 2024, RWE added a 52.5 MW solar project and a 10 MW (40 MWh) battery system to the site. Additional parcels around the complex have also been approved for utility-scale solar development. Maricopa County authorized a land-use change in mid-2025 for new solar capacity west of the existing site, providing room for further growth.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>在 2024 年，RWE 在该地点新增了一个 52.5 MW 的太阳能项目和一个 10 MW（40 MWh）的电池系统。围绕该综合体的其他地块也已获得公用事业规模太阳能开发的批准。马里科帕县在 2025 年中批准了现有地点西侧的新太阳能容量的土地使用变更，为进一步增长提供了空间。</p>
</div><p>Just to the south, construction continues on the Arlington Solar Power Plant—a 376 MW project scheduled for completion in late 2025. Although technically separate, it functions as part of a broader cluster of solar facilities surrounding Arlington Valley.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>就在南侧，阿灵顿太阳能发电厂的建设仍在继续——这是一个 376 MW 的项目，计划于 2025 年底完成。尽管技术上是独立的，但它作为围绕阿灵顿谷的更大太阳能设施集群的一部分运作。</p>
</div><p>Taken together, these additions point to a long-term vision: if the planned phases move forward, the Mesquite complex and adjacent projects could eventually approach 750 MW of combined solar capacity. That would place the area among the largest solar hubs in the country.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>综合来看，这些新增项目指向一个长期愿景：如果计划的阶段顺利推进，梅斯基特综合体及其邻近项目最终可能接近 750 MW 的总太阳能容量。这将使该地区成为全国最大的太阳能中心之一。</p>
</div><h3><strong>Why Mesquite Matters</strong></h3>
<div class="lb-trans"><h3><strong>梅斯基特的重要性</strong></h3>
</div><p>Far from being just visually impressive from the air, the Mesquite Complex is significant for several reasons.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>梅斯基特综合体不仅在空中视觉上令人印象深刻，还有几个重要原因。</p>
</div><p><strong>Grid reliability:</strong> The battery installation allows operators to smooth out intermittency and shift power into higher-value evening hours, improving grid stability across the region.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p><strong>电网可靠性：</strong> 电池安装使运营商能够平滑间歇性，并将电力转移到更高价值的晚间时段，提高了整个地区的电网稳定性。</p>
</div><p><strong>Regional positioning:</strong> Arizona’s strong solar resource and proximity to California give facilities in the Arlington Valley an opportunity to serve load centers that face both high demand and strict emissions requirements.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p><strong>区域定位：</strong> 亚利桑那州强大的太阳能资源和靠近加利福尼亚的地理位置，使阿灵顿谷的设施有机会服务于面临高需求和严格排放要求的负荷中心。</p>
</div><p><strong>Economic impact:</strong> Construction jobs, land-lease payments, and property-tax revenues provide steady benefits to local communities, even though solar installations require modest permanent staffing.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p><strong>经济影响：</strong> 建设工作、土地租赁支付和财产税收入为当地社区提供了稳定的收益，尽管太阳能设施需要适度的永久性员工。</p>
</div><h3><strong>Challenges for 2026 and Beyond</strong></h3>
<div class="lb-trans"><h3><strong>2026 年及以后的挑战</strong></h3>
</div><p>Mesquite’s continuing expansion does not shield it from the broader pressures facing renewable development:</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>梅斯基特的持续扩展并未使其免受可再生能源开发面临的更广泛压力：</p>
</div><ul>
<li>Tariffs and equipment costs are raising project budgets, complicating financing for new phases.</li>
<li>Transmission constraints in the Southwest limit how much power can be exported into neighboring states.</li>
<li>Insurance premiums for large-scale energy assets have risen sharply, pressuring margins across the industry.</li>
<li>Water scarcity in the Sonoran Desert forces developers to rely on cleaning methods that conserve water but may reduce output during dusty periods.</li>
<li>Interconnection delays remain lengthy, slowing the pace at which new projects can come online.</li>
</ul>
<div class="lb-trans"><ul>
<li>关税和设备成本正在提高项目预算，复杂化新阶段的融资。</li>
<li>西南地区的输电限制限制了可以出口到邻州的电力数量。</li>
<li>大规模能源资产的保险费大幅上涨，给整个行业的利润带来了压力。</li>
<li>索诺兰沙漠的水资源短缺迫使开发者依赖节水的清洁方法，但在多尘时期可能会降低产出。</li>
<li>互联互通的延迟仍然很长，减缓了新项目上线的速度。</li>
</ul>
</div><p>These constraints illustrate the gap between national goals and the infrastructure required to meet them.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>这些限制说明了国家目标与实现这些目标所需基础设施之间的差距。</p>
</div><h3><strong>A Symbol of an Evolving Energy Landscape</strong></h3>
<div class="lb-trans"><h3><strong>不断演变的能源格局的象征</strong></h3>
</div><p>From 30,000 feet, the Mesquite Solar Complex is visually striking. Viewed in context, it represents something more profound: the transition of solar power from pilot projects to essential infrastructure. The ongoing construction around Arlington Valley underscores that this transition is not theoretical—it is happening in real time.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>从 30,000 英尺的高度，梅斯基特太阳能综合体视觉上引人注目。从背景来看，它代表着更深刻的意义：太阳能从试点项目转变为重要基础设施。阿灵顿谷周围正在进行的建设强调了这一转变并非理论上的——它正在实时发生。</p>
</div><p>Yet the sector faces genuine challenges. Rising costs, regulatory uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions could slow investment just as electricity demand begins to climb again. Mesquite demonstrates what coordinated planning, financing, and execution can achieve, but also highlights why sustained attention to grid upgrades and policy clarity will determine how quickly similar projects can follow.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>然而，该行业面临着真正的挑战。不断上升的成本、监管不确定性和地缘政治紧张局势可能会在电力需求再次上升时减缓投资。梅斯基特展示了协调规划、融资和执行可以实现的目标，但也突显了持续关注电网升级和政策明确性将决定类似项目能多快跟进。</p>
</div><h3><strong>Bottom Line</strong></h3>
<div class="lb-trans"><h3><strong>结论</strong></h3>
</div><p>What I saw from the airplane window was more than a single project—it was a growing solar corridor. The Mesquite Solar Complex and its neighboring developments show how quickly the Southwest is becoming a focal point for utility-scale renewable power. The question for 2026 is whether the U.S. can maintain that momentum amid rising costs and increasing grid constraints. The answer will shape not just Arizona’s energy mix, but the country’s broader transition in the years ahead.</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>我从飞机窗户看到的不仅仅是一个单一项目——它是一个不断增长的太阳能走廊。梅斯基特太阳能综合体及其邻近开发项目展示了西南地区如何迅速成为公用事业规模可再生能源的焦点。2026 年的问题是，美国能否在成本上升和电网限制增加的情况下保持这一势头。答案将不仅影响亚利桑那州的能源结构，还将影响未来几年全国更广泛的转型。</p>
</div><hr/>
<div class="lb-trans"><hr/>
</div><p><em>More By This Author:</em></p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p><em>更多来自该作者的文章：</em></p>
</div><p>Why OPEC+ Is Losing Its Grip On The Oil Market</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>为何 OPEC+ 在石油市场的影响力正在减弱</p>
</div><p>A Warning Sign For Moscow: Energy Revenues Sink Amid War Spending</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>莫斯科的警告信号：战争开支导致能源收入下降</p>
</div><p>How Tariffs Are Raising Costs In Oil And Gas</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>关税如何推高石油和天然气的成本</p>
</div>

亚利桑那州日益壮大的太阳能巨型集群内部