Arizona Corporation Commission rejects gas plant expansion, prioritizing clean energy and environmental justice

PHOENIX, AZ -- Today, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) voted 4 to 1 to reject Salt River Project’s proposal to expand its gas-fired Coolidge Generating Station. The expansion would pollute surrounding communities, like the nearby historically Black neighborhood of Randolph, exacerbate the climate crisis, and raise costs for customers.

During the siting process for the plant, many community members came forward to voice their concerns – speaking at meetings, submitting comments, signing petitions, and even intervening in the proceeding. The record clearly demonstrates how the proposed Coolidge expansion would disproportionately hurt working class, Black, and people of color residents near the plant with harmful pollution, noise, and lighting that impairs the dark skies for this small community.

This gas plant expansion would have contributed to the climate crisis with its significant carbon emissions, as well as the associated methane leaks from gas extraction, plus harmed communities, especially those nearby. The ACC’s decision presents an opportunity for clean and lower cost energy alternatives such as solar, wind, and battery storage.

In response to the decision, Sandy Bahr, Director of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter, released the following statement:

“The ACC’s decision is a step in the right direction toward the affordable, reliable, clean energy future Arizonans deserve. SRP ratepayers and Randolph residents have been clear that they don’t want utilities to waste another dime on the fossil fuels that are accelerating climate change and endangering our communities. Now we want SRP to focus on building a healthy and clean energy future here in Arizona.”   

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