The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.
The state's three largest electric utilities say they will work together to investigate bringing more nuclear power to Arizona.
In a joint statement, Arizona Public Service, Tucson Electric Power and the Salt River Project say they plan to explore a shared interest in nuclear power, and that it could support the state's growing energy needs.
“New nuclear generation could provide Arizona with reliable, around-the-clock carbon-free energy to power economic growth while helping us make progress toward a clean energy future,” said TEP President and CEO Susan Gray in the statement. “We know the development timeline would be long, so it makes sense for our state’s energy providers to begin this preliminary evaluation as soon as possible.”
The companies say that could range from small modular reactors that generate amounts of power similar to fossil fuel plants, to large scale reactors that generate several times more power.
They will also evaluate a variety of places to locate any potential plants, including the locations of recently retired coal-fire plants.
Arizona has one traditional nuclear plant. The Palo Verde Generating Station’s three reactors west of Phoenix can produce nearly 4,000 megawatts, or roughly the power needs of 610,000 homes.
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