PHOENIX - Local community members rallied outside Arizona Public Service (APS) headquarters in downtown Phoenix today to urge the utility to commit to a clean energy transition from the aging Cholla coal-fired power plant near Joseph City, Arizona. Earlier this year, APS announced plans to continue burning coal at the Cholla plant for at least the next decade, while failing to make any substantial commitment to transition to clean energy like rooftop solar. Representatives from the Sierra Club, Arizona Interfaith Power & Light (AZIPL), Chispa, and other groups presented APS CEO Don Brandt with more than 6,000 petition signatures urging the utility to commit to a clean energy transition from the Cholla plant that will protect public health and Arizona ratepayers, as well as create jobs in the state’s clean energy economy.
“Our state and community stand at a cross-roads: dirty coal or clean energy. It’s time to build a clean energy economy that values Arizona families over big polluter profits. Let’s begin by transitioning away from coal at the Cholla coal-fired power plant and create renewable energy jobs for workers, clean air for us all, and a healthy future for our children,” said Pastor Doug Bland, Tempe Community Christian Church and Arizona Interfaith Power & Light.
"Dirty coal-fired power plants like Cholla are polluting our air, contaminating our water, contributing to climate change and holding us back from building strong, clean energy economies. Here in Arizona, 90% of Latinos want to see APS use more clean energy. Over 70% of Latinos believe that if APS generated more clean energy, we would reduce pollution, strengthen our economy and improve our health," said Pedro Lopez, Program Director for Chispa. "APS, our utility company, needs to work for us, not against us. It’s time for APS to get out of the dirty, old coal business, and invest in a healthy today and clean energy future."
In September, APS announced its plans to phase out coal at three units of the Cholla coal-fired power plant by the mid 2020s, starting with one unit in 2016. PacifiCorp, which owns one unit at the Cholla plant, has announced its intentions to cease burning coal at the Cholla plant by 2025. Both utilities have indicated interest in converting the plant to natural gas rather than taking this opportunity to tap into Arizona's immense clean energy potential.
“As young people, we want to know that there are and will be opportunities for work in emerging industries and clean technologies rather than a continued dependence on old, outdated coal-fired power plants,” said Jordan Hancock, Student Officer for the Arizona Student Environmental Coalition. “Arizona can and should be a clean energy leader in our country. Let’s seize this opportunity and commit to a future powered by clean, renewable energy and move beyond dirty and expensive coal plants.”
In 2013, APS led the assault to weaken Arizona’s net metering policies by proposing a new $50-$100 surcharge on rooftop solar installations in the state. The proposed solar fee was opposed by a diverse coalition of organizations including conservative organizations, clean energy businesses, environmental advocates, and many other groups. During the campaign, it was revealed that APS had directly funded anti-solar smear campaigns to the tune of almost $4 million, despite denying any connection previously. The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) ultimately approved a smaller, $5 fee on rooftop solar customers rather than approving APS’s original proposal.
According to Environment Arizona, Arizona has the potential to produce more than 320 times the state’s energy needs from solar power, including rooftop installations. Despite recent attempts to stifle the state’s solar industry, Arizona still ranks second in the nation with nearly 9,000 jobs in the solar industry.
“APS' continued reliance on the Cholla coal plant prevents the company from truly taking advantage of our state’s solar potential. In fact, APS led the fight to tax affordable clean energy solutions like rooftop solar, all while investing hundreds of millions of dollars to lock Arizona families into dirty, expensive coal-fired power,” said Will Greene, Sierra Club Organizing Representative. “At a time when we should be investing in clean energy and efficiency to reduce our dependence on dirty coal, APS has been a barrier to making progress on creating clean energy jobs in Arizona.”
As Cholla is one of the state’s biggest threats to air, water, and public health, the groups are calling for a clean energy transition away from burning coal at the plant. According to the Clean Air Task Force, as many as 80 premature deaths, 128 heart attacks, and 1,520 asthma attacks will be averted if the plant were to cease burning coal entirely by 2017. The public health benefits of a swifter transition would save the state more than $1 million in health costs.
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