Emily Bosch emily.bosch@sierraclub.org
ARIZONA — On Tuesday, after years of community advocacy and activism, the Arizona utility Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (SRP) announced an accelerated end to coal-fired operations at its Coronado plant in 2029, instead of the previously planned retirement in 2032. Moving away from coal operations will save tens of millions of dollars and reduce dangerous air pollution.
The Sierra Club is glad that SRP is taking a step in the right direction and urges SRP to build on this momentum by prioritizing clean, affordable energy sources over polluting alternatives like gas. Transitioning to clean energy is critical to protecting public health, curbing climate pollution, and delivering long-term savings to customers.
Following the early retirement announcement, SRP’s board of directors approved converting Coronado to gas-fired operations. Moving to gas operations will require the construction of an 80- to 100-mile pipeline. Sierra Club recently submitted comments urging SRP to disclose its full analysis of the Coronado conversion, as well as an explanation to the public of why it rejected lower-cost, healthier energy alternatives like solar and wind plus battery storage.
SRP still needs two external approvals before it can convert the plant to gas-fired operations. The Arizona Corporation Commission must approve a modification to the "certificate of environmental compatibility" (siting permit) for the plant to reflect the gas conversion, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality must approve a modification to the plant’s air quality permit.
Ylenia Aguilar, Senior Organizer for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign in Arizona, released the following statement:
“We are glad to see SRP move up the retirement of the deadly Coronado coal plant. This is a decision that will save lives, protect the air we breathe, and reduce harmful, climate-warming emissions. But there is still more the utility can do to embrace a cleaner, healthier future for Arizonans.
In the last two decades, half a million Americans have died from coal pollution. But converting the plant to gas could potentially lock our communities into decades of more pollution, higher utility costs, and climate catastrophe.
It is not too late for SRP to continue progressing in the right direction. The Arizona Corporation Commission and Department of Environmental Quality can and must prioritize the community they serve by denying SRP’s plans to double down on dangerous fossil fuels.”
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Since 2009, Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign has successfully advocated for the retirement of 389 coal-fired power plants. The campaign is uniting people across America to replace our dirtiest energy sources – like coal and gas – with 100% clean, renewable energy.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.