General Phoenix Metro Discussion Thread

[muertecaza]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/bu...lore-building-nuclear-plant/78242628007/

It's a long ways out and it's early days, but glad to see the utilities taking future nuclear plants seriously.

Arizona’s three largest electric utilities are teaming up to explore ways to meet rising demand through the expanded use of nuclear energy, with a possible new power plant envisioned 15 or more years out.

Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project and Tucson Electric Power on Feb. 5 jointly announced that they have been monitoring emerging nuclear technologies and have a shared interest in evaluating their potential, in response to growing power demand around the state.

APS, the state’s largest utility with 1.4 million residential and business customers, will spearhead the effort. SRP counts around 1 million customers in the state, and TEP has around 450,000.

The utilities say they will consider small nuclear reactors as well as large ones and will assess a range of possible locations, including sites where coal plants have or will be retired. The companies describe nuclear power as a valuable part of a diverse energy mix, providing reliable and clean power 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“To ensure a reliable and affordable electric supply for our customers, we are committed to maintaining a diverse energy mix,” said Ted Geisler, president of APS, which owns and operates the nuclear Palo Verde Generating Station, about 55 miles west of downtown Phoenix.

“While new nuclear generation would take more than a decade to develop, the planning and exploration of options must begin now,” Geisler added.