AzCPA

Issues:  Protecting the Environment

Saving Arizona's Water

Members of the Arizona Competitive Power Alliance worked closely with the Arizona Corporation Commission to minimize the impact of water usage in our Arizona power plants.  In coordination with the ACC,   member companies have identified unique ways to be good stewards of the water that is used.
 

For example, the Harqualhala plant, developed by PGE National Energy Group has provided a much-needed use for Central Arizona Project water.  Other power generating stations use less ground water than the underlying farms  they displace.

Cleaning Arizona's Air

The current generation of natural-gas fired, combined-cycle power plants are much cleaner than the coal plants they displace--meeting Arizona's power needs while producing less pollution

How much cleaner is gas than coal?

To generate 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, or enough to power a typical home for a month, new coal units produce about 2 pounds of sulfur dioxide and just under a pound of nitrogen oxide, contributors to acid rain and smog.

By comparison, new combined-cycle gas units produce almost no sulfur and less than a tenth of a pound of nitrogen oxide.

Click here for a white paper by Mike Pasqualetti, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Geography at Arizona State University detailing the clean air advantages of natural gas plants verses coal plants.

Protecting the Desert

Members of the AzCPA are concerned about Arizona's fragile desert environment, and are committed to leaving the desert as pristine as possible.  would have to double check on the native plants. Duke's Arlington Valley plant, for example, commissioned an Arizona University study of native plants near the plant and has committed to returnig the area around the plant to its native look.
 

Mooney falls plunges over 200 feet.  For a better perspective, click the picture and  notice the people at top.