Rajan Wilcox
SRP, or Salt River Project, is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides water and energy to over 2 million people in central Arizona. SRP has been criticized for its use of fossil fuels and anti-solar efforts, with Environment America labeling it as one of 12 special interest groups waging aggressive anti-solar campaigns. SRP has also been criticized for its ties to the Koch brothers, who have a significant financial stake in the fossil fuel industry. However, SRP has made efforts to integrate renewable energy sources into its operations, with plans to add 1 GW of new solar energy by 2025 and investments in utility-scale solar projects. SRP also operates power plants that use fuel, steam, and nuclear reactions to generate energy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use of fossil fuels | SRP has been accused of being part of an anti-solar campaign and having ties to fossil fuel interests. SRP uses natural gas in some of its power plants and generating facilities. |
| Renewable energy sources | SRP has been investing in solar energy and battery storage projects, with a focus on utility-scale solar projects. By 2025, SRP plans to add 1 GW of new solar energy to its existing 200 MW of solar resources. |
| Carbon emissions | SRP has been working towards reducing carbon emissions by integrating low-cost, large-scale solar and battery storage projects. |
| Customer demand | SRP has responded to customer requests for more renewable energy and is working towards adding more solar capacity to meet customer needs for sustainable resources. |
| Energy storage | SRP is developing battery projects, including a 20 MW solar/10 MW battery storage power plant in Pinal County and 25 MW and 10 MW battery storage facilities in the Phoenix metropolitan area. |
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What You'll Learn
SRP's use of natural gas and oil
SRP, or Salt River Project, is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides reliable, affordable, and sustainable water and energy to over 2 million people in central Arizona. SRP's electric service territory is in central Arizona, and it operates and participates in several major power plants and generating facilities in Arizona and the Southwest.
SRP's diversified renewable resource mix includes wind, geothermal, large and low-impact hydro, landfill gas, and solar energy. SRP first introduced hydropower to the Valley in the early 1900s with the construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam. They now operate several dams that produce hydropower. SRP also receives a significant amount of geothermal energy from Hudson Ranch I in California's Imperial Valley, enough to power 26,000 homes.
In addition to its renewable energy sources, SRP also utilizes some traditional energy sources, such as natural gas and, historically, coal. SRP's Kyrene power plant, which has been in operation since the 1950s, is one of its first major natural gas power plants. The Santan Generating Station in Gilbert, Arizona, is another SRP facility that uses natural gas to generate power. The Desert Basin Generating Station in Casa Grande, Arizona, is a natural gas-fired generating unit with a combined capacity of 635 MW.
While SRP's focus on renewable energy sources is commendable, it is important to note that they still rely on some traditional energy sources, including natural gas, to meet the power demands of their customers.
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SRP's anti-solar efforts
SRP, or Salt River Project, has been accused of being among 12 special interest groups waging aggressive anti-solar campaigns across the United States. While American solar power has increased fourfold since 2010, utilities and powerful industry front groups have been chipping away at key policies that helped spur this solar boom. SRP's anti-solar efforts have been described as follows:
Discriminatory Solar Rates and Charges
SRP has been accused of implementing discriminatory solar rates and charges that negatively impact solar customers. According to Vote Solar, an advocacy group, SRP's solar customers with service at 200 amps or less pay $12.44 more per month than non-solar customers for the same amount of electricity. Solar customers with service above 200 amps pay $25.44 more. Additionally, SRP's residential solar customers must pay higher fixed charges than non-solar customers and are subject to restrictive demand charges or export credits that are below SRP's avoided costs for electricity.
Low Credits to Solar Owners
SRP has been criticized for offering very low credits to solar owners for the excess energy they produce and feed into the grid. While neighboring utilities offer higher rates, SRP's export rate is notoriously low. For example, APS offers 6.9 cents per kilowatt-hour, while SRP's rate is only 2.8 cents, which later increased to 3.5 cents. This rate is still significantly lower than what other utilities offer and is even below SRP's own costs for purchasing or generating power.
Anti-Solar Ballot Measures and Policy Attacks
SRP has been linked to anti-solar ballot measures and policy attacks. In Florida, Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity and Duke Energy worked together to block pro-solar policies and campaigned against a state renewable electricity standard. They mobilized members and waged aggressive ad campaigns against initiatives to expand rooftop solar. SRP has also been accused of attacking key solar energy policies and working behind closed doors to undermine popular policies that give consumers the opportunity to adopt solar power.
Lack of Scrutiny in Price-Setting
Critics of SRP have pointed out a lack of proper scrutiny and time in their price-setting process, which can impact over a million ratepayers. There are concerns about the methodology used by SRP to set its rates, with advocates for rooftop solar expressing frustration and questioning the fairness of the proposed export prices.
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SRP's transition to renewable energy
SRP, or Salt River Project, is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation that provides reliable, affordable, and sustainable water and energy to over 2 million people in central Arizona. SRP's electric service territory is in central Arizona, where it operates and participates in several major power plants and generating facilities.
SRP's power plants and generating facilities use fuel, steam, and nuclear reactions to create energy. Some of these power plants use natural gas, which is a fossil fuel. For instance, the Santan Generating Station in Gilbert, Arizona, is a mix of power-generating units fuelled by natural gas. The Desert Basin Generating Station in Casa Grande, Arizona, is another example of a natural gas-fired power plant owned by SRP.
While SRP has been criticised for its involvement in anti-solar campaigns, there is evidence that the company is transitioning towards renewable energy sources. SRP has defined distributed generation as small electric-generating facilities that can utilise both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The organisation has expressed its support for integrating low-cost, large-scale solar and battery storage projects, recognising their cleanliness, ease of operation, and cost-effectiveness.
SRP has also accelerated the growth of very large utility-scale solar systems, with plans to add approximately 200 MW of new solar capacity annually through 2025. This decision was driven by customer demand for more renewable energy options. By 2025, SRP aims to have 1 GW of new solar capacity in addition to its existing 200 MW of solar resources. This includes a 20 MW solar/10 MW battery storage power plant in Pinal County and 25 MW and 10 MW battery storage facilities in development in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
SRP's 2035 Sustainability Goals include commitments such as building infrastructure for electric vehicles, reducing water waste, and diverting solid waste from landfills. These initiatives demonstrate SRP's recognition of the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions.
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$15.75
SRP's carbon-free electricity generation
SRP, or Salt River Project, is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation that provides reliable, affordable, and sustainable water and energy to more than 2 million people in central Arizona. SRP's electric service territory is in central Arizona. SRP is committed to reducing its carbon emissions and has started to decommission certain coal-fired plants. SRP plans to reduce CO2 emissions by 82% from 2005 levels by 2035 and achieve net-zero carbon by 2050.
SRP generates electricity from a mix of renewable sources, including solar, geothermal, biomass, wind, and hydropower. Solar energy is harnessed using photovoltaic units, solar modules that generate electric power. SRP is developing over 1,500 megawatts (MW) of additional large-scale solar, which will push its total solar energy to more than 2,025 MW, enough to power 450,000 average-size homes. SRP has also invested in battery storage projects to ensure that more solar-generated electricity is available during times of high demand.
Geothermal power is another important source of carbon-free electricity for SRP. Geothermal energy is generated from superheated water reservoirs deep underground, turning a turbine that generates electricity. SRP receives a significant amount of geothermal energy from Hudson Ranch I in California's Imperial Valley, enough to power 26,000 homes.
Wind power is also a key component of SRP's renewable energy mix. SRP was the first utility in Arizona to use wind power and has recently entered into a contract to purchase wind energy from the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center north of Flagstaff, which will produce enough energy to power 40,000 homes.
SRP's diverse renewable energy sources also include hydropower, with the Horse Mesa Dam housing three hydraulic turbine-generator units with a total rating of 32 megawatts (MW). Additionally, the Crosscut hydroelectric power plant, located on the Salt River Project Main Campus, generates carbon-free electricity when water runs through it.
While SRP primarily focuses on renewable energy sources, it also relies on traditional generation sources such as coal and natural gas to meet high demand for power, especially during Arizona's hot summers. However, SRP is steadily transitioning to a more renewable energy mix, adding more clean and renewable energy sources to improve air quality and preserve the natural beauty of Arizona.
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SRP's use of nuclear energy
SRP, or Salt River Project, is a community-based, not-for-profit public power utility and the largest provider of electricity in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. SRP provides reliable, affordable, and sustainable water and energy to more than 2 million people in central Arizona.
SRP operates and participates in several major power plants and generating facilities in Arizona and the Southwest. These generating stations use fuel, steam, and nuclear reactions to create energy. SRP's electric service territory is in central Arizona.
SRP has expressed interest in exploring the addition of nuclear generation in Arizona. In collaboration with Arizona Public Service (APS) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP), SRP aims to evaluate the potential of emerging nuclear technologies to support the state's growing energy needs. This joint effort could lead to the selection of a preferred nuclear site in the late 2020s and the potential operation of additional nuclear power in the early 2040s.
SRP's exploration of nuclear energy aligns with its commitment to providing sustainable and affordable power. By considering small modular reactors (SMRs) and potential large reactor projects, SRP seeks to meet the energy demands of Arizona's growing population and economy.
While SRP currently utilizes natural gas and nuclear power sources, it steadily adds more clean and renewable energy sources to its energy mix. This includes resources such as solar arrays, wind power projects, and hydroelectric power plants. SRP's diverse energy portfolio helps strengthen and protect its power grid, especially during the hot summer months when energy demands are at their highest.
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Frequently asked questions
SRP has been accused of being part of powerful interest groups that are waging anti-solar campaigns. However, SRP has also been working on integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar and battery storage, and has set 2035 sustainability goals. SRP's electric generation facilities use both renewable and non-renewable energy sources, including fossil fuels.
SRP has set 2035 sustainability goals that include building infrastructure for electric vehicles, reducing water waste, and diverting solid waste from landfills.
SRP has been working on integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar and battery storage, and has plans to add 1 GW of new solar energy by 2025.
SRP has been accused of supporting fossil fuel interests and waging anti-solar campaigns. However, SRP has also been working on integrating renewable energy sources and has set sustainability goals.
SRP's electric generation facilities use both renewable and non-renewable energy sources, including fossil fuels, natural gas, photovoltaic, wind, water, and farm waste.
