The McFarland Solar Project is a 500 MW solar-plus-storage facility built on 3,000 acres of desert land in Yuma County, Arizona. As lead developer for the project, Tanya recognized a critical gap in how First Nations were being engaged—particularly in “pro-development” states like Arizona, where consultation with First Nations is not always legally required, especially on privately-owned lands without a federal nexus that would trigger consultation.
Motivated by the need to ensure that Indigenous voices are not sidelined in the clean energy transition, Tanya spearheaded the creation of a company-wide First Nation Engagement Policy for AES, the project owner. The policy established Best Management Practices (BMPs) for engaging with First Nations in the early stages of project development on state or private lands, where no formal legal mandates for consultation may exist under federal, state, or local laws.
Rather than replacing or duplicating formal consultation processes required under laws protecting archaeological or historical resources—such as those on federal lands—the policy was designed to complement existing frameworks by encouraging proactive, voluntary engagement rooted in respect for First Nation sovereignty and self-determination. At its core, the policy defines “engagement” as a process of meaningful, respectful communication and coordination with First Nations before the company undertakes actions or makes decisions that could impact their cultural landscapes, ancestral territories, or sacred resources. It reflects Tanya’s belief that responsible renewable energy development must go beyond compliance—it must build trust-based, collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities whose lands, histories, and futures are often directly affected by such projects. Additionally, engaging First Nations in project development often leads to the recovery of ancestral knowledge, especially when cultural findings on a site are revisited and reexamined.
As the lead developer for this project, Tanya managed all project development activities and supervised subject matter experts from the early stages—such as securing site control—through construction, including obtaining permits, negotiating power purchase and interconnection agreements, securing gen-tie line easements and financing.