The Salt River Project announced that it has reached an agreement with members of the historically black community in Pinal County to allow for the expansion of its controversial natural gas-fired power plant.
In return, the community will suffer an increased health and financial burden, subject to approval by the Arizona Corporation Commission, which canceled the project last year. The SRP has agreed to make some of its commitments whether or not the Commission approves what is known as Coolidge Power Station’s Certificate of Environmental Sustainability.
SRP representatives have met several times with members of Randolph, an unincorporated community near Coolidge. Randolph sits next to an existing SRP natural gas plant that the company hopes to expand to meet peak summer energy demands.
“SRP has met with the Randolph parties and their attorneys several times to listen to and address their concerns and objections to the project,” said lawyers for Snell & Wilmer, which represents SRP. Matt Durstein writes. Those discussions recently led to a settlement in which Randolph residents agreed to withdraw their opposition to the expansion project, according to a June 14 filing by Durstein to the commission.
In return, SRP agreed to reduce the number of additional natural gas generators from the originally desired 16 to 12 and to place them approximately 400 feet away from a community of approximately 150 residents. The utilities also agreed to limit the operation of the 12 units to 30% of capacity on an annual basis.
Previous coverage:‘We Are Humans’: Randolph Residents Bus To Phoenix To Protest SRP Expansion Plans
SRP spends millions to improve community
The settlement would require SRP to spend $23.8 million for community benefits and related improvements, subject to the Board’s approval of the revised plan. This represents an additional $12.3 million in benefits beyond what the SRP promised last year.
Among these pledges, the SRP will pay up to $4 million in scholarships to Randolph residents and their descendants, spend up to $2 million to build a community center, $200,000 to operate it, and a proposed We plan to support a $50,000 land purchase. SRP also provided her $1.2 million in funding for the construction of a block wall and agreed to provide up to $100,000 for community landscaping and historic markings. Some of the community programs funded include teaching students from kindergarten through her 12th grade.
In addition, power companies pledged to rehabilitate up to 60 homes at a cost of up to $1.5 million and pay up to $500,000 for road paving to reduce dust. SRP also said it would pay for the home air monitor and reimburse the community for legal costs of up to $171,000.
SRP purchased Coolidge Power Station in 2019 and has been aiming to expand from December 2021. Last year, the Maricopa County Superior Court upheld the board’s decision to deny the expansion request, but the SRP insisted on pushing ahead with the project, saying it “needed to get the plant ready quickly.” Ramping your gas generator to ensure it can meet peak energy demands.
SRP said the additional gas turbines would run only a few hundred hours per year.
Please contact the author at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.
