RANDOLPH, Arizona — Utility giant Salt River Project (SRP) is requesting state regulators reconsider the expansion of a natural gas plant near Coolidge.
In a filing this week with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), SRP says they’ve reached a settlement with parties in the town of Randolph who previously opposed the expansion. The utility is asking commissioners to approve a certificate of environmental compatibility for the Coolidge Expansion Project. The commission has previously denied the certificate to SRP.
“SRP continues to need fast-ramping natural gas resources to reliably serve residential and commercial growth in SRP’s territory,” the document states.
Protestors successfully fought back plans to expand the plant twice at the ACC.
Residents of the historically black community, founded in the 1920s, complained about pollution caused by the existing plant. Although cleaner than coal, natural gas emits pollutants and climate-warming carbon dioxide. The denials of SRP’s applications were considered victories for climate justice advocates.
SRP appealed the 2022 application denial by the commission and a Superior Court ruled in January the Commission erred in denying a certificate on grounds the application was incomplete.
The court also found existing evidence “would have supported balancing interests in favor of issuing a CEC (certificate) for the project,” according to the commission filing. However, the court also concluded it was within the Commission’s range of discretion” to deny approval of the certificate.
SRP has filed an appeal to that decision.
In the meantime, SRP states in its request to the Commission that residents who fought the expansion have come to an agreement. SRP says they will reduce the number of new natural gas generation units from 16 to 12 and the new units will be 400 feet farther away than originally planned.
SRP has also agreed to expand its original list of commitments to the community of Randolph, which is unincorporated. Those commitments include:
- $200,000 scholarship program annually for residents and their descendants
- construction of a $2.6 million community center and accompanying funds for ongoing operations
- the purchase of additional land for Randolph
- the purchase of in-home air monitors for residents
- $500,000 for additional paving in the community
The total sum of commitments by SRP is more than $23 million, according to the document.
Arizona politics
Get the latest Arizona political news on our 12News YouTube playlist here.